UN Women welcomes the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 2106 on conflict-related sexual violence
Date:
Statement by Lakshmi Puri
UN Women welcomes the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 2106 (2013) on 24 June, the sixth resolution on Women, Peace and Security, and the fourth one focused on conflict-related sexual violence. This resolution, which adds greater operational detail to previous resolutions on this topic, reiterates that all actors, including not only the Security Council and parties to armed conflict, but all Member States and United Nations entities, must do more to implement previous mandates and combat impunity for these crimes.
UN Women is particularly encouraged that Resolution 2106, co-sponsored and supported by several dozen countries, affirms the centrality of gender equality and women’s political, social, and economic empowerment to efforts to prevent sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. It also emphasizes the importance of implementing the full range of commitments emanating from resolution 1325, and recognizes UN Women’s efforts in this area. We applaud the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence, Ms. Zainab Bangura, the members of UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, and the Security Council, led by the United Kingdom.