Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, January 2012

Resolution 1325 (2000) and other Council resolutions on women, peace and security and on children in armed conflict should remain high on the agenda of the United Nations. We are concerned by continued reporting about mass rapes as a method of war and the very low numbers of perpetrators who have been brought to justice.

Secondly, women and children must be placed at the centre of transitional justice mechanisms. We commend the Council for its efforts in combating impunity for sexual and gender-based violence, in promoting gender-responsive justice reforms and in securing women's participation in all aspects of postconflict recovery.

Moreover, legal systems have to be capable of addressing the special situation and needs of women and children, particularly in societies traumatized by conflict, including through special legislation and appropriate programmes of assistance and by abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against women and pose obstacles to their full and equal participation.

My fourth point concerns the situation of those most vulnerable to the impact of conflict and postconflict situations. An effective response has to address the particular needs of those people, such as women and children, who are not only more vulnerable, but also so often targeted and used as soldiers or as instruments of war, as is the case with sexual and gender-based violence. Rule-of-law tools are also fundamental in that regard. The means to fight impunity for those crimes have to be strengthened, including in United Nations mandates through their components on protection of civilians. Moreover, legal systems have to be capable of addressing the special situation and needs of women and children, particularly in societies traumatized by conflict, including through special legislation and appropriate programmes of assistance and by abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against women and pose obstacles to their full and equal participation.

The face of those suffering from atrocious international crimes is very often that of the most vulnerable — women and children.

Resolution 1325 (2000) and other Council resolutions on women, peace and security and on children in armed conflict should remain high on the agenda of the United Nations. We are concerned by continued reporting about mass rapes as a method of war and the very low numbers of perpetrators who have been brought to justice.

In that regard, let me also mention the great importance that the Human Security Network attaches to the role of the Council in the protection of women and children. We are pleased with the work undertaken by the Security Council in progressively strengthening the protection framework for children affected by armed conflict, as well as with its efforts to prevent and combat sexual violence. We would like to underline the importance of capacity-building for State institutions and transitional justice approaches that are victim-centred and gendersensitive in order to ensure that the rights of victims, in particular of women and children, are fully respected and their interests taken into account. We fully support the Secretary-General's recommendation for further attention by the Council to the rights of victims to reparations.

As emphasized in the Secretary-General's report to the Council on the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, all rule of law programmes and transitional justice mechanisms have to be planned and implemented in a manner sensitive to the specific needs and rights of women and children. Evaluations of the specific impact of transitional justice measures on marginalized groups of society should be conducted on a more systematic basis. In view of the unique and disproportionate effects of conflict on women and children, we must enhance our efforts to ensure women's access to justice.

The protection of civilians, grave violations in armed conflict of children's rights, and women's justice and security needs have become an important part of the Council's concerns and mandates.

We welcome the progress that has been made in providing for the protection of persons, in particular civilians, including women and children, when addressing security-related issues. In its actions to prevent and resolve conflicts and to help build and maintain peace in specific situations on the ground, the Council must sustain its efforts to make the rule of law in the broader sense the linchpin of its resolutions and mandates in a systematic and non-selective manner.

The presence or non-presence of the rule of law ultimately determines success or failure. This applies just as equally to the protection of civilians as it does to children in armed conflict, or to women, peace and security, to name but a few key areas.

In his report, the Secretary- General judiciously outlines a number of fundamental aspects to be addressed in that regard, such as security sector reform and civilian protection, placing particular emphasis on the most vulnerable groups, such as children and women, as well as the need to bring to justice the perpetrators of international crimes.

Considering that the Council has recognized that conflict-related sexual violence is a legitimate threat to international peace and security, we hope that it will remain actively engaged with the matter. It is important to maintain focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women in broader rule of law activities.

In that regard, let me also mention the great importance that the Human Security Network attaches to the role of the Council in the protection of women and children. We are pleased with the work undertaken by the Security Council in progressively strengthening the protection framework for children affected by armed conflict, as well as with its efforts to prevent and combat sexual violence. We would like to underline the importance of capacity-building for State institutions and transitional justice approaches that are victim-centred and gendersensitive in order to ensure that the rights of victims, in particular of women and children, are fully respected and their interests taken into account. We fully support the Secretary-General's recommendation for further attention by the Council to the rights of victims to reparations.

Secondly, women and children must be placed at the centre of transitional justice mechanisms. We commend the Council for its efforts in combating impunity for sexual and gender-based violence, in promoting gender-responsive justice reforms and in securing women's participation in all aspects of postconflict recovery.

My fourth point concerns the situation of those most vulnerable to the impact of conflict and postconflict situations. An effective response has to address the particular needs of those people, such as women and children, who are not only more vulnerable, but also so often targeted and used as soldiers or as instruments of war, as is the case with sexual and gender-based violence. Rule-of-law tools are also fundamental in that regard. The means to fight impunity for those crimes have to be strengthened, including in United Nations mandates through their components on protection of civilians. Moreover, legal systems have to be capable of addressing the special situation and needs of women and children, particularly in societies traumatized by conflict, including through special legislation and appropriate programmes of assistance and by abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against women and pose obstacles to their full and equal participation.

The situation of the most vulnerable in societies affected by conflicts, in particular forcibly displaced persons, women and children, brings an element of urgency to the imperative of restoring the rule of law.

Considering that the Council has recognized that conflict-related sexual violence is a legitimate threat to international peace and security, we hope that it will remain actively engaged with the matter. It is important to maintain focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women in broader rule of law activities.

As emphasized in the Secretary-General's report to the Council on the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, all rule of law programmes and transitional justice mechanisms have to be planned and implemented in a manner sensitive to the specific needs and rights of women and children. Evaluations of the specific impact of transitional justice measures on marginalized groups of society should be conducted on a more systematic basis. In view of the unique and disproportionate effects of conflict on women and children, we must enhance our efforts to ensure women's access to justice.

My fourth point concerns the situation of those most vulnerable to the impact of conflict and postconflict situations. An effective response has to address the particular needs of those people, such as women and children, who are not only more vulnerable, but also so often targeted and used as soldiers or as instruments of war, as is the case with sexual and gender-based violence. Rule-of-law tools are also fundamental in that regard. The means to fight impunity for those crimes have to be strengthened, including in United Nations mandates through their components on protection of civilians. Moreover, legal systems have to be capable of addressing the special situation and needs of women and children, particularly in societies traumatized by conflict, including through special legislation and appropriate programmes of assistance and by abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against women and pose obstacles to their full and equal participation.

It is also necessary to eliminate policies and practices that discriminate against women and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect the rights of women and other vulnerable sectors of society and promote gender equality.

Resolution 1325 (2000) and other Council resolutions on women, peace and security and on children in armed conflict should remain high on the agenda of the United Nations. We are concerned by continued reporting about mass rapes as a method of war and the very low numbers of perpetrators who have been brought to justice.

In that regard, let me also mention the great importance that the Human Security Network attaches to the role of the Council in the protection of women and children. We are pleased with the work undertaken by the Security Council in progressively strengthening the protection framework for children affected by armed conflict, as well as with its efforts to prevent and combat sexual violence. We would like to underline the importance of capacity-building for State institutions and transitional justice approaches that are victim-centred and gendersensitive in order to ensure that the rights of victims, in particular of women and children, are fully respected and their interests taken into account. We fully support the Secretary-General's recommendation for further attention by the Council to the rights of victims to reparations.

Secondly, women and children must be placed at the centre of transitional justice mechanisms. We commend the Council for its efforts in combating impunity for sexual and gender-based violence, in promoting gender-responsive justice reforms and in securing women's participation in all aspects of postconflict recovery.

My fourth point concerns the situation of those most vulnerable to the impact of conflict and postconflict situations. An effective response has to address the particular needs of those people, such as women and children, who are not only more vulnerable, but also so often targeted and used as soldiers or as instruments of war, as is the case with sexual and gender-based violence. Rule-of-law tools are also fundamental in that regard. The means to fight impunity for those crimes have to be strengthened, including in United Nations mandates through their components on protection of civilians. Moreover, legal systems have to be capable of addressing the special situation and needs of women and children, particularly in societies traumatized by conflict, including through special legislation and appropriate programmes of assistance and by abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against women and pose obstacles to their full and equal participation.

It is important to ensure that the rule of law is fully taken into account in all reform and reconstruction efforts undertaken in conflict and postconflict situations. In so doing, priority should be given to access to justice for those who often suffer disproportionately in conflict and whose voices are unfortunately still the weakest in peace negotiations and post-conflict processes: women, children and marginalized groups. The Secretary-General recommends a United Nations policy to ensure the full inclusion of marginalized populations. Good progress is being made by United Nations actors in advancing women's access to justice in post-conflict situations.

Mexico recognizes the importance that the concept of the rule of law has acquired through a number of Security Council resolutions, in particular when it comes to establishing mechanisms for the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the attention that has been given to the justice and security needs of women and children, and the promotion of gender equality in access to justice.