Implementation

United Nations peacekeepers and those of regional organizations authorized by the United Nations have a key role to play in preventing sexual violence in conflict situations by practicing zero tolerance within their ranks and protecting vulnerable populations.

To address this problem, comprehensive solutions should be sought by both ensuring the supremacy of the rule of law and by building judicial and security institutions. Gaps in legislation and implementation must be addressed. Criminal responsibility must be increased. Impunity must be ended both for perpetrators and those in the chain of command. The investigative capabilities of national institutions must be increased.

The Security Council deserves special credit for connecting the concepts of sexual violence and impunity to international peace and security, passing numerous resolutions and addressing the issue in various meetings. We also welcome today's adoption of resolution 2106 (2013). The Council's efforts help strongly convey the message that sexual violence and impunity are unacceptable.

Secondly, monitoring and reporting on incidents of sexual violence is important, as highlighted in the Secretary-General's most recent report (S/2013/149). We extend our full support to the endeavours of the United Nations in this area. In this respect, as a neighbouring country, Turkey took note with concern of the findings of the recent report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.

It takes personnel, resources and time to end the culture of impunity. The continued support of the international community is essential. Punishment for the crime often serves as the most important deterrent. To address sexual violence during conflicts and ensure that these crimes can be prosecuted in the post-conflict phase, the necessary documentation and evidence must be gathered while the conflict is ongoing.

I would also like to commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for its valuable work. Acting in close partnership with all relevant stakeholders, including national judicial and security institutions, international and regional organizations, humanitarian agencies, civil society and the private sector, the United Nations should continue its technical assistance to countries suffering from conflict.

We must address the issue of impunity through the adoption of strict provisions. In this regard, the United Nations should assist States in developing or establishing mechanisms of cooperation through bilateral or regional agreements for the arrest and extradition of alleged perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

Despite all the difficulties and the need to ensure the protection of women and girls in armed conflict and to prosecute their attackers, there is still the hope that combating such violence will succeed thanks to the commitment and efforts of the international community. We wish to commend the efforts of UN-Women, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and many international and non-governmental organizations to that end.

International humanitarian law prohibits rape and other forms of sexual violence. Such crimes can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. International tribunals, especially the International Criminal Court, play a key role in punishing and preventing such crimes.

In an unprecedented partnership, civil society organizations, the Council and the United Nations as a whole have put in place a visionary framework based on five resolutions on women and peace and security. That framework not only asks us to fight sexual violence effectively in times of conflict, it also commits us to supporting women as active agents for change.