Implementation

" In this context, the Security Council has a particular responsibility — first of all, to act on the factors of the spread of the disease, in particular, sex abuse. Since the adoption of resolution 1308 (2000), the Security

"It must be emphasized that in some situations HIV can negatively affect and be an obstacle to gender empowerment and the full involvement of women in peacebuilding efforts. Greater protection of women and girls has been emphasized through the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010)."

Finally, I would like to reiterate that Uruguay believes the agenda on the protection of civilians in armed conflict to be a multidimensional one. It is informed and sustained by more specific, although closely linked, issues, such as, among others, those of children in armed conflict and women and peace and security.

Ukraine is alarmed by the fact that civilians continue to account for the majority of casualties in conflicts, as well as a high number of displaced persons. We are deeply concerned by the frequency and gravity of attacks against civilians, especially women and children, and by issues of safety for humanitarian personnel and of timely humanitarian access to those in need, particularly vulnerable groups.

The plight of women and children, in particular, remains perilous and requires urgent attention. South Africa appreciates the efforts of many Governments, including those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, to combat sexual violence, as demonstrated by the arrest of senior military officers involved in crimes of conflict-related sexual violence.

In February, at the initiative of the Brazilian presidency, the Council held informal consultations to discuss protection-related items on its agenda, namely, protection of civilians, children and armed conflict, and women and peace and security. South Africa supports this holistic approach, whereby these issues are dealt with in a coherent manner. In that regard, actions undertaken by the Secretariat should be mutually reinforcing.

Situation-specific resolutions have increasingly called for protection to be prioritized in the implementation of peacekeeping mandates. We particularly welcome the development of comprehensive strategies on the protection of civilians, which assist missions in understanding the relevant threats facing civilians in their areas of operation and enable them to better channel their efforts towards addressing them.

Thirdly, sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflicts is one of the most horrible forms of violence, not only against civilians but against civilization itself, and it deserves our special attention. Women and girls are most vulnerable, and sexual violence has a devastating and corrosive effect on society as a whole.

Those efforts led to the Security Council's establishment of a Working Group tasked with the protection of civilians and to draw up plans to put an end to all murder and other forms of violence, including sexual violence, affecting civilians. However, the thrust of the recommendations and presidential statements by the Council have unfortunately not yielded the desired results.

We can think of no better way to keep civilians out of harm's way than to prevent conflict before it breaks out. Prevention is infinitely better than cure. We therefore urge the international community to lend greater support to the preventive diplomacy initiatives of civil society and regional and subregional bodies and efforts, such as the Economic Community of West African States Observation and Monitoring System.