France

Let us not forget that another body will have a key role in tins regard: the Human Rights Council. Indeed, the Human Rights Council should be able to take up for consideration any situation in which, for example, women are particularly targeted. It will be able to do so throughout the year. So it will be able to react to emergencies and ensure regular follow-up of its decisions, including making recommendations to other UN bodies if necessary.

The Human Rights Council will also be able to guide technical assistance operations carried out by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It will then be able to ensure that .hey do not neglect the specific needs of women and that they take into consideration the skills the specialized NGOs provide in the field.

Malaysia

We wish to express our abhorrence at the continuing victimization and violence against women and girls, especially in situations of armed conflict and the systemic use of abduction and rape by the parties to the conflict as an instrument of war. We would like Member States to take the necessary measures against all perpetrators of such acts in accordance with the principles of international law and domestic legislation as well as making provision for protection of women and girls in armed conflict. We wish to reaffirm the relevance of Chapter 1V.E of the Beijing Platform of Action on Women and Armed Conflict.

Peru

The momentum for eliminates the gap between paper and reality has come. We have a lot of information about gender-based violence of women and girls in the field, their strengths and weaknesses.

Philippines

As developments on the ground continue to be fluid, the Philippines would like to see the action plan used also as a tool for gathering accurate information on the status of women in conflict areas, including the scope and gravity of gender-based violence and the progress on the empowerment of women in the area of peace and security. Certainly, this information would serve to guide the Council on the way forward on implementation and monitoring.

United Kingdom (on behalf of EU)

The EU also condemns all violations of the human rights of women and girls in situations of armed conflict and the use of sexual exploitation, violence and abuse. The EU urges the complete cessation by all parties, including UN staff, related personnel and partners, of such acts with immediate effect. The EU stresses the need to end impunity for such acts as part of a comprehensive approach to seeking peace, justice, truth and national reconciliation and to develop and fully implement codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures. Sexual and gender based violence affects not only women, but families and societies as well, and adds to the creation of a culture of violence. Promoting both the ratification and implementation of CEDAW, human rights education for boys and girls, and ending impunity for perpetrators of sexual and gender based violence, will create a safer and more sustainable environment for women's participation.

Samoa (on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum)

The Security Council must act to protect the most vulnerable. Special attention must be paid to the specific protection needs of women and girls to prevent gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict.

Security Council must call for the prosecution of those who commit crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes including those relating to sexual and other violence against women and girls. There can be no impunity for such crimes.

Sri Lanka

It is essential that the Security Council consider the following important measures:

1) To determine means by which the Security Council could be systematically informed of the use of gender-biased violence by parties to armed conflict.

South Africa

It is disheartening that sexual and gender based violence, including trafficking in persons, continue to be used as a weapon of war in conflicts. In some parts of the world, gender-based violence has reached almost epidemic proportions. Every effort must be made to halt this odious practise, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

OSAGI

Women shoulder the thrust of the post-conflict problems and are primary victims of unspeakable sexual and gender-based violence. I call on the Council, to hold the parties to conflicts fully accountable for protecting women's human rights and on donors, to ensure that humanitarian and development assistance reaches women.