Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

Botswana strongly supports the involvement of women in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and conflict prevention. We are also supportive of calls for addressing concerns about sexual violence in mediation and peace processes, particularly in the context of security arrangements and transitional justice mechanisms. However, we believe that such efforts should take into consideration the needs and rights of women and children.

With the aim of improving the overall situation of women victims of rape, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina is finalizing the drafting of the document entitled “Programme for the victims of rape, sexual abuse and torture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2013-2016”, which will seek to improve the position of all the victims.

Finally, we would like to point out that the international community has taken noteworthy steps, including the adoption of the relevant resolutions, to tackle the issue of sexual violence. But more importantly, the time has come to start converting commitments and promises into real actions on the ground to prevent violence, protect individuals, punish perpetrators and provide redress to victims.

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.

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.

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.

We note, in that regard, the efforts of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, which was established pursuant to resolution 1888 (2009), aimed at strengthening the capacity of national rule-of-law and justice actors.

The Secretary-General also noted in his report that “The focus of international criminal justice and mixed tribunals on combating acts of sexual violence, including rape, in the context of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, represents an important complement to national efforts.” (S/2013/149, para. 112).

Furthermore, past wrongs left unpunished or unrecognized often impede progress in achieving long-awaited peace and reconciliation and can even play a key role in the eruption of new conflicts and the commission of new crimes.