Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Montenegro

Preventing conflict-related sexual violence through empowerment, gender equality and justice is central to peacebuilding, conflict prevention and reconciliation. We must support the ability of women to influence policies that promote peacebuilding and development and reduce inequality.

It is unacceptable for crimes of sexual violence not to be reported and condemned and for those responsible not be held accountable. The United Nations, other international bodies, Governments and civil society must all play their part in ensuring a response so as to eliminate sexual violence in conflict areas around the world [...] At the international level, the Security Council has an important role to play, including through the sanctions regime. We call on the Security Council to explicitly include sexual violence as a designation criterion within the United Nations sanctions regimes where such crimes are persistently perpetrated.

We need to redouble our efforts to prevent conflictrelated sexual violence through the empowerment of women and by supporting gender equality and justice at all levels. No perpetrator should be above the law and no survivor should be neglected.