Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: The Maldives (Extract 2)

Increased awareness about the nature of the crime, changes in taboo social perceptions, and having an efficient and reliable framework to identify sexual exploitation are necessary to establish the first step to end impunity and ensure accountability. We also note that there are commonalities in the recommendations for these countries, including strengthening legal frameworks, provision of access to justice as well as socioeconomic support for victims, strict screening and training of armed and security forces, and strengthening frameworks to enhance cooperation with the United Nations to enhance prevention and response measures. Most of the victims are women and girls from marginalized rural communities, who do not always benefit from full legal protections, and often have cultural taboos regarding sexual violence. Therefore, not only should Member States strive to extend the reach of the rule of law to all communities, but also ensure that the law itself provides protection to the victims through alignment with international human rights standards on sexual violence and abuse.