Statement of Hungary at the May 15 Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict
PK
To tackle conflict-related sexual violence in the long run, we should build a robust preventive architecture that includes early warning, strengthened national legal and policy frameworks and justice systems and gender-sensitivity training of security-sector and peacekeeping personnel, and that ensures the presence of women’s protection advisers in all peacekeeping operations.
Hungary is an active contributor to initiatives to combat sexual violence in conflict. The Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade will organize an awareness-raising workshop this summer on women and peace and security for experts of the relevant ministries, the army, the police, peacekeeping personnel. interested civil society organizations and academics. Only together can we tackle sexual violence in armed conflict. That will be one of the topics under discussion at that conference. We have to do our utmost, including through concerted action, to tackle the scourge of sexual violence in conflict.
Justice
That complex and more serious issue must be tackled in a comprehensive way. There must be justice and accountability for such horrendous crimes, underpinned by efficient investigation, documentation and reporting mechanisms to prevent impunity and future violence and to break the conflict cycle. In that regard, we highly appreciate the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Moreover, Hungary is proud to financially support and contribute to the invaluable work of the gender advisers deployed by UN-Women and Justice Rapid Response, and to the work of UN-Women to prevent violent extremism.
PB
The impact of sexual violence in armed conflict is dramatic for survivors and detrimental to communities. Individuals do not only suffer serious and long-term physical and psychological harm, they also face stigma, double victimization, trauma, the risk of discrimination and social exclusion. For communities, sexual violence means a form of collective persecution of ethnic and religious minorities; the loss of their identity through forced conversion and indoctrination and the destruction of their social fabric through forced marriage and stigmatization.