New Resolution on Sexual Violence in Conflict

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 1888 (September 30, 2009). UNSCR 1888 is a follow up to Resolution 1820 that will enable the Security Council and the Secretary General to implement the recommendations in the Secretary-General's report as well as some of the recommendations presented by Member States at the open debate on August 7, 2009.

UNSCR 1888 was sponsored and presented by the US government at today's session chaired by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It builds on SCRs 1325 and 1820, both of which were instrumental in raising the issue of sexual violence on the Security Council's agenda. UNSCR 1888 calls for:

- The immediate appointment of a Special Representative to provide leadership, work effectively to strengthen existing UN coordination mechanisms and advocate on ending sexual violence against women with governments, military, judicial representatives and parties to armed conflict;

- The creation of a team of experts, comprising specialists on rule of law, civilian and military judicial systems, mediation, criminal investigation, security sector reform, witness protection, fair trial standards, and public outreach. This team will assist governments, UN missions on the ground and peacekeeping forces to cope with sexual violence in armed conflict, enhance national capacity and to strengthen rule of law and state authority to prevent impunity;- The appointment of women's protection advisors in peacekeeping missions;- Governments and international community to increase access to health care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and socio-economic reintegration services for survivors of sexual violence, particularly in the rural areas;

- The provision of data and information about the prevalence of sexual violence in reports made by peacekeeping missions to the Security Council;

- the Secretary-General to continue and strengthen efforts to implement the policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations; and and urges troop and police contributing countries to take appropriate preventative action, including pre-deployment and in-theater awareness training, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel; and

- An annual reporting on the progress made on implementing SCR 1820 and this new resolution.

France and other Member States expressed concern about the recent violence in Guinea Conakry. They cited this as an example of a situation where women and other marginalized groups can become more vulnerable and international instruments like Resolutions 1820 and 1888 would be very much needed. The importance of Resolution 1325 as the foundation document that recognizes women's role in peace building and conflict resolution was also highlighted by Vietnam and other Security Council members. The United Kingdom, Mexico and a number of other Security Council members also welcomed the creation of the new women's entity in the UN system.

The Security Council also received endorsements and statements from 40 other Member States but they were not read in today's meeting.