In the face of these heinous crimes, there exists, first for States and then for the international community, a grave responsibility to protect those who are exposed to war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide or ethnic cleansing. The international community is called upon to encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility. Conflict-related sexual violence, in particular sexual violence as an instrument of terrorism, undoubtedly falls within this pressing and profound responsibility to protect. The prevailing impunity of those who have committed such crimes clearly illustrates the urgency of fulfilling this duty.
The urgent need to act in order to spare women and girls from becoming prey for such atrocious tactics in conflicts should accompany, and even embolden, States’ common efforts and resolute will to bring conflicts to an end and to adopt coordinated solutions through dialogue and mediation efforts and through post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation measures. There is no need to recall also that the role of women in such an endeavour is essential. It should not be an afterthought or considered simply as something politically correct, but rather as an indispensable contribution to all our peace and security efforts designed to spare our world from further scourges of war and violence.