Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Equatorial Guinea

We cannot separate violence, including sexual violence, from the root causes of conflict. Peace cannot be achieved without investing in the sustainable development of countries and gender equality. That is the most effective conflict prevention strategy. In that regard, we wish to recognize the ambitions of the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its clear focus on people-driven sustainable development, anchored in gender equality, the empowerment of women and equitable economic growth among and within countries.

We advocate continued support for the various components of the United Nations architecture to combat sexual violence in armed conflicts and for collaboration among them and United Nations agencies for counterterrorism, organized crime, humanitarian response and sustainable development, in order to safeguard the recovery and reintegration of victims, especially children born of sexual violence and women who have survived such assault.