Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Paraguay
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Paraguay (Extract 1)
Based on that experience, my delegation highlights the value of specialized training for peacekeeping missions contingents, both before and after deployment, on the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, the care of victims and the resources available for the prosecution and trial of those responsible, while always respecting the sovereignty of States, the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs, and international law. Paraguayan military personnel receive general training on the protection of civilians in armed conflict prior to their deployment in peacekeeping missions, as well as specific and specialized training on civil-military coordination and on violence and gender inequality, at the Training Centre for Peacekeeping Operations in Paraguay.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Paraguay (Extract 2)
The mandate of protection of civilians against sexual violence, in its broadest sense, must be explicit and treated as a priority in situations where, due to the nature of the conflict, civilians are at a high risk of suffering that type of violence. Those mandates must incorporate both prevention mechanisms and protocols to assist victims and ensure accountability of the perpetrators.
Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Paraguay (Extract 3)
Finally, and from a broader perspective, the Paraguayan delegation highlights the need to frame initiatives addressing sexual violence in conflict situations within efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 5, on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.