It is a matter of deep regret that the international community must repeatedl...

It is a matter of deep regret that the international community must repeatedly debate the issue of sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict. That abhorrent behaviour, whether perpetrated by the parties to the armed conflict or by others, must be unequivocally, unambiguously and resolutely condemned. There should be no tolerance for gender-based violence. All such cases must be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted. Some argue that human rights law and international humanitarian law do not offer enough protection to women and children. Such postulation is a bit extreme. Women's rights and needs have received the attention they deserve in the codification of international law. The challenge is the effective implementation of the laws and the availability of adequate resources for capacity-building wherever required. That alone will ensure the real impact of our

efforts on the ground. By definition, it is States that are parties to the treaty-based system of international law. By and large, they respect them, and when they do not, penalties arise under provisions of the relevant treaties. However, the most egregious crimes against women in times of conflict have been and are being committed by non-State actors, often warring against Governments. They obey no laws and, as experience has shown throughout the past decade, are immune to coercive or punitive measures. The Council therefore needs to consider, in practical terms, how non-State actors, who are responsible for the bulk of the crimes that continue to be committed against women, can be effectively tackled.