Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

Sexual violence in conflict remains prevalent, yet universally under-reported. That is, inter alia, the result of threats faced by those who come forward to report such crimes. We underline the need to take all measures necessary to protect survivors, witnesses, humanitarian workers, medical personnel, human rights defenders and journalists who contribute to aiding survivors and collect information on sexual violence.

Sexual violence in conflict remains prevalent, yet universally under-reported. That is, inter alia, the result of threats faced by those who come forward to report such crimes. We underline the need to take all measures necessary to protect survivors, witnesses, humanitarian workers, medical personnel, human rights defenders and journalists who contribute to aiding survivors and collect information on sexual violence.

There is a wide range of tools available for preventing crimes of sexual violence, as well as for holding perpetrators accountable. The use of targeted sanctions by the Security Council, with a focus on specific individuals or entities suspected of bearing the greatest responsibility for such crimes, is an important aspect of deterrence.

The International Criminal Court itself has a unique role in setting a new tone in the fight against impunity for sexual and gender-based violence. The Rome Statute of the ICC prohibits an unprecedented number of gender crimes, including rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization and other forms of sexual violence as war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.

Estonia would welcome having all the Security Council Sanctions Committees consider focusing on crimes of sexual violence. In that context, it might be necessary to harmonize designation criteria for listed individuals and entities by including any relevant charges from the international justice mechanisms and, importantly, from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Estonia is also very satisfied that the Arms Trade Treaty, recently adopted by the General Assembly, includes strong human rights and international humanitarian law criteria. In assessing the export of conventional arms, each country has to take into account the risk of those arms being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children.

Allow me to note that Estonia confirms its commitment to ending impunity and fighting sexual violence through its financial contributions in the field as well. In 2013, Estonia contributed financially to a UNICEF project in the Central African Republic for the prevention and response to gender-based violence.

The Government of El Salvador is thus strongly committed to combating impunity and to providing access to redress for victims, as can be seen on a daily basis in the Ciudad Mujer programme.

After the end of the civil war, El Salvador lived through two decades in which gender policies and attention to human rights violations were not high on the Government's agenda. To be honest, little, if anything, was done to ensure access to justice by victims and to fight impunity, and even less to establish measures that would lead to reparations for victims.

The report of the Secretary-General, entitled “Sexual violence in conflict” (S/2013/149), which was been presented by his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, highlights several concerns emerging this year, including the perpetration of sexual violence against men and boys as a tactic of war or in the context of detention or interrogation, children born as a result of rape in wartime, and the practice of forced ma