Implementation

Secondly, we advocate involving civil society organizations and effective cooperation with the signatories of national action plans.

First, we support enhancing monitoring, research and reporting, as well as putting in place an appropriate mechanism or procedure by the Security Council to systematically monitor commitments by parties to conflict so as to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence.

Because of the important role of women, since 2007 the Netherlands has invested in national action plans, together with civil society organizations, research institutions and other Government institutions — altogether more than 40 partners. The objective of those partnerships is to create an enabling environment in which women are better able to take a leading role and to participate in political decision-making processes.

With regard to the implementation of reporting and oversight mechanisms — and in accordance with resolution 1960 (2010), as mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General — we hope that such measures will serve as the basis for evidence-based actions. Such measures should be objective and meticulous in monitoring sexual violence in conflict and should be carried out in an atmosphere of complete objectivity and independence.

With regard to prevention, the report of the Secretary-General states that the establishment of refugee camps near conflict areas and the difficulty of gaining access to them, in addition to the lack of registration records for refugees, impede efforts to safeguard refugees and to alleviate their daily suffering.

The Kingdom of Morocco commends the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, particularly in the area of fostering and preserving the progress that has been made, as well as for affirming the shared responsibility of society for combating sexual violence.

In many countries, developing codes of conduct for security and police forces is very important to providing comprehensive protection from sexual violence.

Achieving the desired objectives in curbing sexual violence requires the involvement of all parties and the efforts of public authorities, national human rights organizations and every component of civil society, including women's associations, so as to mobilize the necessary efforts to put an end to that scourge. To that end, there must be sufficient technical support and financing from donors.

It is a worrying trend that sexual violence in those contexts remains universally under-reported, for which a lack of adequate national capacity and expertise for investigating and prosecuting acts of sexual violence remains one of the main causes.

In that context, my delegation welcomes the various initiatives and actions undertaken by Member States, United Nations entities, including UN-Women, civil society organizations and other relevant actors that are focused on supporting and increasing the representation of women in peace negotiations and mainstreaming gender perspectives into peace agreements.