Conflict and post-conflict situations are often marked by violence and the deprivation of rights. In armed conflicts, sexual violence represents one of the most serious forms of violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The lack of progress on the issue of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict, in particular against women and girls, remains of great concern for us.

Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches the utmost importance to confronting the grave issue of sexual violence and is particularly encouraged by the commitment of the Security Council to keep the matter on its agenda. That commitment was unequivocally demonstrated by the adoption of resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1894 (2009), which paved the way for concrete action aimed at preventing sexual violence.

We welcome the information provided this morning by Ms. Bangura on the agreement reached with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to strengthen efforts to combat sexual violence in conflict in that country, and our hope is that the agreement will be speedily implemented.

Thirdly, I would like to thank the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for its determined and courageous work. Belgium supports its efforts to strengthen the capacity of national actors.

Secondly, my delegation is convinced that we must focus on prevention in the fight against all forms of sexual violence. That is one of the key conclusions of the most recent session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the main theme of which was the struggle against all forms of violence against women and girls.

My country has always been a strong advocate of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and will, of course, remain so. In his report, the Secretary-General clearly highlights how sexual violence persists in many societies as a common practice that is often invisible and too rarely prosecuted.

Lastly, we are strongly in favour of the mainstreaming of the fight against sexual violence in the various areas of action of the United Nations. By way of example, we welcome the fact that the text of the Arms Trade Treaty that was recently adopted includes clear references to the need to take into account the risks of violence against women and girls.

Fourthly, the situations in the countries mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General are particularly worrying. I would highlight the seriousness of the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and the Syrian Arab Republic, among others. In the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sexual violence against women is used systematically as a weapon of war.

First, my delegation stresses the need to ensure that the countries concerned themselves take ownership of and lead the fight against sexual violence. National courts must, in our view, remain the main place where people are charged with sexual-violence crimes. We should of course support those courts in pursuing the fight against impunity.

Fifthly, my delegation particularly supports certain recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General. On the one hand, it is necessary to increase pressure on the perpetrators of sexual violence related to conflict by adopting targeted measures against them via the various Sanctions Committees.