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United Nations Security
Council Open Debate titled “Conflict-related sexual violence: promoting
implementation of Security Council resolutions on conflict-related sexual
violence” – New York, 14 July 2023
At the outset, I would like to thank the British presidency of the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the timely organization of this meeting
on the important issue of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), as well as
the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in
Conflict for her insightful presentation; we reiterate our full support to
her mandate. We also express our appreciation to Ms Naw Hser Hser and Nadine,
for their presentations.
Mr President,
My delegation fully subscribes
to the Statement delivered by the European Union. I would like to make some
additional remarks in my national capacity.
Cyprus strongly condemns
gender-based violence in all its forms and manifestations, online and
offline, including all acts of sexual violence against civilians in armed
conflicts. Despite progress made since the unanimous adoption of resolution
1820 by the Security Council in 2008, the abhorrent crime of conflict related
sexual violence continues, and impunity – regrettably – prevails in many
cases. Victims and survivors are often living ashamed in the shadow, awaiting
justice and redresses.
We are deeply concerned by the
growing use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, and terrorism,
including by the severity and brutality of such incidents. Numbers cannot lie
and are only the tip of the iceberg, since many cases remain unreported.
These heinous CRSV crimes can be facilitated and promoted also online,
utilizing digital channels. We note with concern that women and girls,
constituting the majority of the CRSV victims, are disproportionately
affected by the gender-digital divide.
Cyprus recalls that rape and
other forms of sexual violence can constitute a war crime, a crime against
humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide. CRSV is a peace and
security issue and an impediment to restoration of peace, requiring specific
operational and policy responses.
These heinous crimes should not
remain unanswered and cannot be addressed in isolation. Member States have
obligations under international humanitarian law and international human
rights law. It is their responsibility to prevent and address such violence,
to protect and support survivors and bring perpetrators to justice. In this
regard, Cyprus joins others in calling all parties to armed conflicts,
including non-state armed groups, to cease acts of sexual violence
immediately and completely against civilians, and to implement action plans
to prevent and address sexual violence, in accordance with their obligations
under international humanitarian law and all the relevant Security Council
Resolutions.
Prosecution and accountability
are keys to ensuring long lasting peace. Therefore, we need to strengthen
legal procedures at national, regional, and international levels, ensuring
that all victims of sexual violence, particularly women and girls, have equal
protection under the law and equal access to justice.
Addressing the culture of
impunity is our common responsibility. The international community has also an
obligation to ensure accountability for such crimes when national
institutions are unable or unwilling to do so. The Security Council must use
all tools at its disposal to support action against CRSV as a tactic of war.
A survivor-center approach must
guide all our actions and responses to CRSV. We should always take into
consideration that survivors are not a homogenous group: they have different
needs and perspectives that we need to take into consideration in addressing
the trauma that victims, survivors, and their families are experiencing,
including by ensuring access to medical care and psychosocial support.
Mr President,
As a country that
has experienced the atrocity of CRSV first-hand, Cyprus attaches great
importance to the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and joins
calls to accelerate efforts towards their elimination. In this regard, Cyprus
has adopted Action Plans and strategies related to gender equality, including
legislative measures, highlighting, and promoting the positive role women
have as agents of change.
Mr President,
It is imperative to address the
root causes of sexual violence in conflict settings, and of gender-based
violence,
deeply rooted in historical inequalities which perpetuate the problem. In
this regard, the full, equal, and meaningful participation and involvement of
women in all efforts for the maintenance of peace and security is a sine qua non for the
full implementation of the peace and security agenda, including in addressing
CRSV.
To conclude, Cyprus remains
committed to continue working with the international community to strengthen
the global response to CRSV in order to protect and empower women, girls, men
and boys in all their diversity.
I thank you.
(MV/ECHR)
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