Implementation

We welcome the Secretary-General's recommendation to emphasize the decisive role of civil society, in particular women's organizations and community leaders, in the many efforts to eliminate sexual violence against women. We need to ensure that women's participation in peace negotiations and processes is conducted on an equal footing with men and that the resulting agreements take gender problems into account.

Finally, allow me to reiterate the importance of linking our efforts to protect and strengthen women's rights with our commitment to promote women's participation. Men, too, have everything to gain from such efforts. The development of a truly global society will be achieved only by insuring the equal participation of women and men in all aspects of the peacemaking, peacebuilding and reconstruction processes.

The Nordic countries commend the work done by the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in strengthening the capacities of States to address such violence. The Justice Rapid Response/UN-Women roster of sexual and gender-based violence justice experts has proven to be another important and effective tool to address crimes related to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.

The appalling situation faced by survivors of sexual violence calls for our urgent attention. Sexual violence in conflict must stop. A strong normative framework is in place, the Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security being the most prominent constituent, and we call on the full implementation of those resolutions.

Another issue that is reflected in the Secretary-General's report and which deserves more attention is sexual violence perpetrated against men and boys. The lack of national legislation, specialized services and the stigma associated with those violations are among the factors that prevent recognition of that violence as a crime.

I should like to reiterate the fact that among States that are particularly involved in protecting women in conflict and on the question of sexual violence in conflict much progress has been made in our country since 2005.

I should like to mention that special programmes on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration have been particularly important in highlighting women's roles. Those have been carried out in coordination with the relevant bodies of the United Nations, including UN-Women. Furthermore, we are combating sexual violence, and have done so since 2005.

The Government has given special consideration to uplifting the social and economic status of war widows. Bilateral assistance has already been obtained to initiate a self-employment programme for war widows in Batticaloa in collaboration with the Self Employed Women's Association, based in India.

Legal action has been taken by the Government in all of the above-mentioned cases in which Sri Lankan Security Forces personnel were involved. The military has taken stringent action, including discharging offenders or imposing other punishments in accordance with the military and penal codes. Furthermore, charges have also been filed in normal criminal courts.

We believe that if we are to effectively combat conflict-related sexual violence, we need the cooperation of regional and subregional organizations