Statement
by H.E. Cho Tae-yul
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
at the Security Council Open Debate
on Women, Peace and Security

17 April 2013
New York


Madam President,

At the outset, I would like to thank you for your presence here today and for convening this significant debate. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to H.E. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, for their informative and insightful briefings. My thanks also go to Ms. Saran Keita Diakite for her statement on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.

The Security Council has achieved significant normative progress in combating conflict-related sexual violence over the past few years. This includes the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010). While these documents reaffirmed our strong commitment to end sexual violence in conflicts, this egregious crime still remains a daunting challenge for the international community in many new and ongoing armed conflicts.
In this context, my delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict (S/2013/149). It shows that sexual violence continues to occur in conflict and post-conflict situations throughout the world, and in some cases, such acts have become systematic and widespread. The report also reveals worrisome emerging trends, such as the nexus between sexual violence and the illicit extraction of natural resources and displacement of civilian populations. What is more worrying is that sexual violence is almost universally under-reported.

Against this backdrop, my delegation would like to stress following key points.

First, my delegation would like to underline the significance of the fight against impunity. We can never expect to eradicate sexual violence without ensuring that those responsible are systematically brought to justice. We strongly support the Secretary-General's recommendation to the Council, contained in his report, to employ all means at its disposal to address sexual violence in conflict, including referrals to the International Criminal Court and mandating international commissions of inquiry.

Ensuring accountability at the national level is equally important. However, it is regrettable that the lack of adequate national capacity to investigate and prosecute sexual violence remains one of the main impediments to ensuring accountability for such crimes. In this regard, my delegation would like to commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, established pursuant to Resolution 1888 (2009), and further encourage it to focus its efforts on strengthening institutional safeguards against impunity at the national level.

Second, we need to be more systematic in incorporating the issue of conflict-related sexual violence into the work of the Security Council. The Council for its part should give due attention and consideration to sexual violence in authorizations and renewals of the mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions, through the inclusion of specific languages on this issue. Furthermore, the deployment of Women's Protection Advisors to UN missions should continue to be encouraged.

My delegation also believes that the adoption of targeted measures by relevant sanctions committees towards perpetrators of sexual violence crimes is another crucial means of the Council at its disposal. It serves as a strong deterrent to conflict-related sexual violence by raising the stakes for perpetrators. We welcome that the DRC Sanctions Committee imposed measures on those responsible for committing sexual violence last year. My delegation would like to encourage other sanctions committees to similarly focus on sexual violence crimes. The list of parties that are credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflicts, contained in the Secretary- General's report, could be a good basis for such action by the Council.

Third, we need to pay more attention and care to victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Priority should be given to providing them with sustainable assistance, including medical, psychological, legal and other multi-sectoral services. Those services should be tailored to the specific needs of the survivors. To this end, it is imperative to strengthen the capacities of relevant national institutions, and allocate adequate resources to relevant programmes.
In this regard, we support the Secretary-General's recommendation to ensure that reparations awarded through judicial or administrative mechanisms are established and made available to victims of sexual violence in conflict. It is particularly important that post-conflict reconstruction processes strengthen overall systems for reparation, including the provision of adequate and timely resources.

Madam President,

As a member of the Group of Friends of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), the Republic of Korea has been actively engaged in international efforts to combat conflict-related sexual violence. In this context, my delegation welcomes the timely adoption of the Declaration on preventing sexual violence in conflict by the G8 Foreign Ministers last Thursday in London.

As the Ministers of the G8 recognized in the Declaration, efforts to address sexual violence in armed conflict should be consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security. Further, it is noteworthy that the Declaration highlights the importance of wider efforts to promote better implementation of the relevant Resolutions. To this end, the Korean Government is also working on the draft National Action Plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325, with the involvement of all relevant Ministries and in close consultation with civil society. The Plan is expected to include measures to combat conflict-related sexual violence and to provide assistance to the victims and survivors of sexual violence in conflicts.

Before closing, my delegation would like to commend the tremendous efforts of Special Representative Bangura and her exemplary dedication to the fight against conflict-related sexual violence and extend its full support for her mandate. The Republic of Korea will continue to be committed to implementing all resolutions to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence in cooperation with the international community. Thank you.

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