UN demands end of sexual violence as tactic of war

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a halt to the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war.
Resolution 1888 reiterated the 15-member bodys demand for the complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence with immediate effect.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who chaired the high-level meeting as her country hold the Councils rotating presidency this month, said the resolution was a step forward in our global efforts to end violence perpetrated against women and children in conflict zones.
The text focused on an issue that has received too little attention, she said, noting that it builds on two previous similar Security Council resolutions.
Ending sexual violence, particularly in Africa, is a proclaimed priority for the US and Hillary raised the issue when she visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country which has seen an epidemic of horrific sexual assaults against women.
The US-drafted text affirms that effective steps to prevent and respond to such acts of sexual violence can significantly contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.
It calls on UN chief Ban Ki-moon appoint a special representative to provide coherent and strategic leadership to... address, at both headquarters and country level, sexual violence in armed conflict.
It urges states to undertake comprehensive legal and judicial reforms... without delay and with a view to bringing perpetrators of sexual violence in conflicts to justice.
Parties to a conflict must also ensure that all reports of sexual violence committed by civilians or by military personnel are thoroughly investigated and the alleged perpetrators brought to justice.
Earlier, eight UN member states on Tuesday agreed to sign on to the 2007 Paris Commitments aiming to protect children from being recruited by armed forces or armed groups. Albania, Guinea, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Panama and Senegal endorsed the commitments at a ministerial session, bringing to 84 the number of countries which have done so.
The Paris Commitments were adopted in February 2007 as an expression of strengthened international resolve to prevent the recruitment of children and highlight the actions governments should take to protect children affected by conflict.
It is important that all children, whether they have joined an armed group by force or by circumstance, have access to vital assistance to help them reintegrate and lead empowered and productive lives, said Ann Veneman, the Executive Director of the United Nations Childrens Fund.
The support for the 'Paris Principles and new endorsements show that the international community is mobilised to stop this unbearable phenomenon, said Alain Joyandet, Frances junior minister for cooperation.
Around a quarter of a million children are fighting in the ranks of armed groups across the world, down from around 300,000 five years ago, according to UN officials.