On Thursday, June 19, 2008, the Security Council members met in the United Nations to discuss sexual violence against women and children, in conflict and post-conflict situations. After a day-long debate on the issue, Security Council members agreed to adopt Resolution 1820 and demanded an end to sexual violence against women as a tactic of war. Those who attended and participated in the debate included senior Ministers and representatives from Japan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Croatia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Panama, Nigeria, and so on.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chaired the debate on the behalf of the U.S.

“We affirm that sexual violence profoundly affects not only the health and safety of women, but the economic and social stability of their nations,” she said in her opening remarks.

Resolution 1820 declares that rape and other forms of sexual violence constitute war crimes, or crimes against humanity. The Resolution also confirms that the Council should consider imposing measures against those groups that engage in sexual violence and rape. It also acknowledges that many groups use rape as a tactic of war in order to “humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic group” – actions which clearly aggravate conflicts.

The text also asks those parties currently engaging in armed conflict to take appropriate measures against the use of sexual violence and to protect civilians in times of conflict. This includes military disciplinary measures, improved training of troops, and “debunking myths that fuel sexual violence.”

The Resolution also asks the Secretary General to submit a report detailing specific situations in which sexual violence against civilians is prevalent. It also asks for proposals on how to implement the Resolution, with guidelines for reducing the exposure of women to such violence, directed towards UN peacekeeping officials as well as specific countries and groups.

The delegates also discussed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, on Women, Peace, and Security. Resolution 1325 was passed unanimously almost eight years ago, on October 31, 2000. It was the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and women's contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace. It expressed concern that civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict. It also addressed the need to increase the role of women in decision-making relating to conflict prevention and resolution.

The speakers at the conference, representing these various nations, all expressed concern for the current situation and emphasized the need for change, while supporting the mission of Resolution 1325.

Yukio Takasu, Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission for Japan, said that since Resolution 1325 was passed, there has been steady progress in helping women participate in post-conflict decision-making. However, “the response to gender-based violence has been inadequate,” he said. In order to improve the situation, he said that the Security Council should
1) Collect actual data on the impact of sexual violence
2) End impunity and punish those responsible for sexual crime
3) Provide training for peacekeeping and humanitarian personnel
4) Strengthen mission mandates in the area of protection, and set concrete goals to implement

Gender issues also cannot be viewed as simply women’s issues, but as necessary for peacekeeping as a whole, he said.

For the Democratic Republic of Congo, the issue of violence against women hit home. The country’s Minister of Gender, Family and Children, Omatuku Atshakawo, said that rape has become a weapon of war, used to destroy the enemy, destroy the family, and destroy the dignity of women. It is “weakening the physical, psychological, and economic health of women.” 50% of women victims are under the age of 18, she said. A code for the protection of children would be adopted soon by the Congolese Senate, Atshakawo said.

Sexual violence is “leading to the feminization of poverty” she continued. Rape prevents women from being able to return to work and make a living. The Democratic Republic of Congo offers medical, psychological, and economic help to abused and raped women, allowing them to return to school and work. The government also offers free legal and judicial services, allowing victims to bring their cases to court. Atshakawo also spoke about youth, stating that the Congolese government helps young female victims to return to school and cares for those orphaned as a consequence of sexual abuse.

Article 14 of the Congolese constitution also provides for the equality of men and women, she said. The government thus strives to fight ignorance by making sure that women know their rights. Furthermore, female judges are trained to offer proper legal services to victims, and there is also an increasing number of female military and police personnel. The government also prevents known rapists from holding public posts.

“Women have the right to peace, and without that, all dignity and development will be lost,” Atshakawo said.

Some similar points were made by Claudia Fritsche, from Liechtenstein, who stressed that more women must be appointed to leading positions, especially in the UN and in positions regarding diplomacy and peace. This would allow women to be stakeholders, not just victims. Many girls in regions of conflict associate uniformed officials with sexual violence, so if women are increasingly given such roles, such widespread negative perceptions will change.

A common theme running through the all the speeches of the day was that women should be given an active role in peace-building and conflict resolution processes in order to ensure that any peace becomes truly sustainable.

Overall, it was extremely inspiring to see so many representatives come forth with their full and unhindered support of the United Nations Resolutions 1820 and 1325. The United Nations Resolution is an encouraging first step towards truly reducing the use of rape as a war tactic. With the passing of this Resolution, it is hopeful that many nations will take further concrete steps to improve their military procedures, educate their soldiers on the consequences of sexual violence during war, introduce more severe sanctions to punish sex offenders, and provide readily accessible resources that allow female victims to bring justice to their assaulters, recover from the trauma, and get back on their feet. Education can also help reduce the social stigma around sexual abuse, which can truly help re-integrate victims into society and allow them to make valuable contributions to their communities.

The fact that the United Nations placed such a great emphasis on children and youth was also very encouraging. Many of the speakers discussed the role of the government in helping to care for young girls negatively impacted by sexual violence, as well as those orphaned by it. Still, there is more that can be done. Although the Security Council members have emphasized the role of women in peacebuilding and in ensuring the social and economic development of states, they must place equal emphasis on youth and children. Young people are truly the future of the world, and if the efforts of leaders and decision-makers today are to succeed and be truly sustainable, young people must be viewed as the equals of adults, and must be recognized for their talents, passion, idealism, and infinite potential to change the world.

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(Picture Caption: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, next to UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon: opening remarks at Thursday's Security Council Meeting. Picture Credit: UN News Centre)