Fourthly, particular attention and priority should be given to the vulnerability of refugee populations, namely, women and children, living in the proximity of combat zones or unsecured borders or territories. Restriction of access to vulnerable groups, including women and girls, who often have no registration documents, poses major risks to the efforts of the United Nations in the fight against sexual violence in armed conflict.

First, the commitment of the national Governments concerned in the fight against sexual violence in armed conflict and their ownership of the process are crucial to preventing and putting an end to this phenomenon.

The Security Council must continue to use all resources at its disposal in targeting the perpetrators of acts of sexual violence through the adoption of selective and phased measures through its sanctions committees, the ad hoc and mixed tribunals, and the special chambers of national tribunals.

My country deplores and condemns the recent, numerous cases of sexual violence recorded by the Secretary-General in his current report (S/2013/149). Mexico recognizes that the perpetration of acts of sexual violence in a post-conflict society impedes the restoration of peace and the security of the population, as well as the establishment of solid governmental institutions.

Mexico emphasizes the relevance and usefulness of the International Criminal Court and its complementary competency in order to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of international crimes, including the war crime of sexual violence. We encourage those States that have not yet done so to accede to the Rome Statute as soon as possible in order to achieve the universalization of that important instrument.

Mexico commends the efforts and actions of the United Nations, its agencies and the Governments of States in conflict. However, much remains to be done in order to ensure full access for victims to systems of justice and reparation and to ensure that the perpetrators of the acts are brought before the corresponding tribunals.

I thank the delegation of the United Kingdom for bringing this important matter to the attention of the Security Council. Also allow me to express our gratitude to the Secretary-General and to his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Zainab Bangura, for their briefings.

Allow me to conclude by reiterating that Mexico is convinced that there can be no lasting peace without justice and that there is no room for amnesty for international crimes, such as that of sexual violence in conflicts

Without a doubt, ending impunity is critical in ending sexual violence, whether it is committed by individuals, groups or States. Nonetheless, Member States bear the primary legal and moral responsibility for the protection of their civilian populations.

We consider the routine deployment of women's protection advisers as crucial in addressing sexual violence. At present, only eight such advisers have been deployed in the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan. It is therefore encouraging to learn that more are being recruited for the United Nations missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and the Central African Republic.