Participation

In order that women lead that fight, as they have been agents of change since 2014, four women have been promoted to the rank of general, which is extraordinary in Africa. One of them heads the army’s civic education unit. In the wake of that a campaign known as “Breaking the Silence” was launched with a toll-free number to enable 22 million Congolese telecommunication subscribers in rural areas to report rape cases.

We must underline the undeniable role that women can and must play in peacebuilding. There is an important link between women’s full and meaningful participation in preventing and resolving conflicts and in post-conflict reconciliation and rebuilding efforts and the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of such efforts. Women must participate on an equal footing when it comes to the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

Secondly, with respect to the need to place victims’ needs and perspectives at the core of our work, the Secretary-General’s report outlines how victims of conflict-related sexual violence can be re-victimized even after their ordeal has ended — women interrogated as potential affiliates of extremist groups instead of receiving treatment and support as victims of terrorism, children facing legal and social discrimination having been born from

We have been firmly advocating for and promoting women’s equitable and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution, mediation and peacebuilding, and we aim to improve the representation and participation of women throughout our civilian and military deployments.

Since the seminal adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), this Council has placed the participation of women in crisis management and recovery at the centre of its concerns, with the full support of France. Beyond the agenda on women and peace and security, the question of sexual violence in conflict is taking a growing place in our work.

Fourthly, the numbers of women peacekeepers, police and correction officers should be increased. The evidence for their greater inclusion is compelling. With more female peacekeepers and female police officers we reach the whole population in a conflict area and become more efficient in operations. There is a clear need for more female leaders in executive positions.

First, empowering women is essential. The common denominator of sexual violence is that it finds fertile ground where there are pre-existing patterns of structural discrimination based on gender. Women must therefore have access to education and employment and must participate in decision-making processes in order to reaffirm their integrity and value as human beings.

Sexual violence in conflict is a crime that we can eradicate. We strongly believe that our joint efforts can yield tangible results through a combination of preventive and responsive measures, including targeted sanctions against all categories of perpetrators, monitoring and systematic reporting, assistance for victims, the empowerment of women and girls, increased numbers of female peacekeepers and advisers and training for all forces.

I take the floor on behalf of Switzerland for two reasons — first, because sexual violence primarily, though not exclusively, affects women and girls; and, secondly because, through its Permanent Representative and within the framework of the Gender Champions initiative, Switzerland has committed to increase the participation of women in the deliberations of United Nations organs, including the Security Council.