Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Pakistan
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Pakistan (Extract 1)
For far too long, sexual violence has remained a grim and inevitable reality of armed conflicts, which has often been employed systematically and with impunity, to coerce, punish, humiliate and instill fear in the targeted civilian population. Even as the international community has come together to collectively condemn such acts of unimaginable horror, sexual abuse of women and girls continues to be used as a tactic of war in conflicts around the world.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Pakistan (Extract 2)
In order to combat impunity for these crimes, and protect women and girls from systematic abuse, the international community needs to recalibrate its response. Let me make four specific points in this regard: One, the Security Council, as the primary body tasked with the maintenance of international peace and security, should focus on addressing the root causes of conflict to remove the grounds where such crimes breed; Two, mechanisms to independently investigate and verify reports emerging from conflict situations where sexual violence is taking place are critical to dealing with the issue; Three, we must also take concrete steps to enhance the capacity of national institutions and improve criminal justice systems in countries facing armed conflict; and four, justice does not only mean punishment for the perpetrators. It also means redress for the survivors. Victim protection and rehabilitation should remain a top priority. The stigma attached to victimhood must be redirected towards the perpetrators. They are the ones who should be made an example of, not just as retribution, but also as a preventive measure.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Pakistan (Extract 3)
As one of the world’s leading troop contributing countries, Pakistan has set the highest standards in fulfilling peacekeeping mandates, including protection of vulnerable segments of population especially women and children from violence. We fully support the Secretary General’s policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. Pakistan was among the first group of countries to sign the Secretary General’s voluntary compact on the subject. We have also contributed to the Trust Fund for the victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. To share our experience and promote best practices in peacekeeping, we have established a UN Peacekeeping Training Institute in Pakistan, offering specially designed modules to help peacekeepers respond effectively and protect innocent civilians from sexual violence. We also believe increased participation of female peacekeepers and encouraging more women to take up mediation roles will help in the stabilization and reconstruction phase of post-conflict rehabilitation.