Implementation

Sexual violence is no longer a simple by-product of armed conflict. It is being used as a weapon of war, aimed at dehumanizing and instilling fear in civilians in situations of armed conflict. Whether carried out by non-State armed groups or Government security forces in conflict and post-conflict situations, it is to some extent designed to achieve political and military objectives.

The ability of the Security Council to enforce accountability for the protection of civilians, especially women and children, must be further strengthened. In that regard, we expect that the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence requested under resolution 1960 (2010) will be operational as soon as possible.

There is no avoiding mention of the Libyan crisis, also in the light of the important results obtained at the second meeting of the Contact Group on Libya, held in Rome on 5 May. With repeated attacks on civilians, including women and children, the situation in the country had deteriorated so drastically that international action to protect the population was the only viable option.

The violence perpetrated against populations, even women and children in some cases, in Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, Yemen and, more recently, Syria is a tragic reminder of the importance of protecting civilians. Italy calls on all States and non-State actors to abide by international humanitarian and human rights law and has always been ready to help all parties to a conflict to exercise their responsibility to protect civilians.

An enormous amount of the Council's attention has been focused recently on protection issues, with the Council adopting a number of resolutions and statements on the protection of civilians and related issues of violence against women and children in situations of armed conflict.

The protection of civilians in armed conflict is a priority of the Human Security Network. We highly value the continued attention that the Security Council is giving to that important issue.

Significant progress has been made in recent years in the normative and institutional framework with the adoption of important resolutions, most recently resolution 1960 (2010), which established a monitoring, analysis and reporting mechanism on conflict-related sexual violence. However, emphasis must now be placed on progress in enhancing protection on the ground.

With respect to the systematic violence carried out against women and girls, we welcome the investigations that are under way in the country, which reflect the determination of MONUSCO and of the Congolese Government to combat impunity.

How can indiscriminate bombing, the use of sophisticated weapons and aircraft and the death of innocent people, including children, under the pretext of protecting other equally innocent civilians, be justified? The United Nations has made no statements whatsoever regarding the protection of the civilian victims of NATO's aggression against a sovereign country.

In our opinion, the question of the protection of civilians in armed conflict deserves more consistent attention from the Council. Statistics over the past 20 to 30 years clearly show that civilian casualties in conflict areas have consistently outnumbered military casualties and continue to do so.