Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

In three days, we will commemorate the twentieth anniversary of atrocious crimes committed against the Azerbaijani civilians of the town of Khojaly, where during one night hundreds ofcivilians were killed only because they were Azerbaijanis. Not even women and children were spared by the invading troops.

Among the pressing issues requiring urgent action and attention is that of women taken hostage and reported missing in connection with armed conflict. We are continuing our efforts to address that disturbing phenomenon, including through the relevant biennial resolution of the General Assembly and the Commission on the Status of Women, of which Azerbaijan is a main sponsor.

We know that conflict situations are usually characterized by the breakdown of law and order. The impunity that can prevail in such situations has a particularly devastating impact on the victims of sexual violence. Accountability for crimes of sexual violence is critical to changing behaviours.

Security sector reform must address conflict related sexual violence. The development of human rights training tools for security officials will help to extend these efforts to detention and interrogation facilities, which are often beyond the reach of peacekeeping missions.

Today's debate addresses an urgent matter. More and more, we are witnessing a disturbing trend in the use of sexual violence as a political and military tool, the effects of which are grave and long lasting, often alienating entire communities. Although conflict related sexual violence is not a women's issue, it is a known fact that a disproportionate number of victims of such violence are women and girls.

During the past decade, particular attention has been paid to addressing some of the specific crimes experienced by women and girls during armed conflicts, namely, rape, trafficking, enforced prostitution and enslavement. It is critical to ensure accountability for past and present crimes, and to not grant immunity to perpetrators. Otherwise, we would be providing amnesty for future crimes.

Afghanistan adopted a law on the elimination of violence against women, which has provided the Government with stronger judicial means through which we can combat sexual violence more effectively. That is real progress towards breaking the silence with regard to violence and sexual violence.

The United Kingdom is committed to spending 30 per cent of its growing development assistance in countries affected by conflict, which among other things will help 12 million women to access justice through the courts, the police and legal assistance.

The United Nations work to promote the rule of law extends to more than 150 countries. Our efforts to combat transnational crime, build confidence and capacity in State institutions, and battle discrimination against women are all part of this effort. [...] Our goal is to quickly demonstrate the value of the rule of law. That builds public confidence in political settlements.

My fourth point concerns the situation of those most vulnerable to the impact of conflict and postconflict situations. An effective response has to address the particular needs of those people, such as women and children, who are not only more vulnerable, but also so often targeted and used as soldiers or as instruments of war, as is the case with sexual and gender-based violence. Rule-of-law tools are also fundamental in that regard.