International: Security Council open debate - women, peace and security
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Coalition for the International Criminal Court On 26 October 2006, the Japanese Presidency to the Security Council convened the Council's annual open debate on Women, Peace and Security. The theme of this year's discussion was the role of women in the consolidation of peace.
Following the debate, the Council issued a Presidential statement which stated that: "The Security Council remains deeply concerned by the pervasiveness of all forms of violence against women in armed conflict, including killing, maiming, grave sexual violence, abductions and trafficking in persons. The Council reiterates its utmost condemnation of such practices and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to ensure full and effective protection of women, and emphasizes the necessity to end impunity of those responsible for gender-based violence."
Briefings from UN Officials were delivered from Rachel Mayanja, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (presenting the report of the Secretary-General); Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and Carolyn McAskie, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office. Christine Miturumbwe, Coordinator of the Dushirehamwe Association, and Maria Diaz, President of Rede Feto, also made statements before the Security Council.
Several states made explicit references to the ICC, namely, France, Finland, The Netherlands, and Uganda (in the order of their statements). Excerpts of these statements are below.
EXCERPTS OF STATEMENTS
France
"With regard to the protection of women during conflict, the Darfur crisis and the situation in Ituri show that violence, especially sexual violence, against women unfortunately continues to be widespread, and often is carried out with impunity. The Secretary-General's in-depth study on all forms of violence against women (A/61/122/Add.1) highlights the gap between progress that we have made in the normative sphere - whether it be through Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), through progress in international humanitarian law or through the Statute of the International Criminal Court - and the continuing situation on the ground. This year, France and the Netherlands are submitting a draft resolution to the General Assembly one of whose elements will be a request to each United Nations organ to examine the means that it can employ to reduce this gap between norms and the reality on the ground."
-- H.E. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière, Permanent Representative of France to the UN
Finland, on behalf of the European Union
"We urge that impunity be ended for all perpetrators by strengthening the legal and judicial systems and by enacting and enforcing legislation to ensure investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. The EU stresses that impunity must be excluded from all war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and gender-based crimes, and it reiterates its support for the International Criminal Court in this regard."
-- H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Rehn, Minister (Former Minister of Defence) of Finland, on behalf of the European Union
The Netherlands
"We must turn the tide and take action now. Gender-based violence is not an inevitable consequence of war and conflict. Resolution 1325 (2000) highlighted the importance of women's protection needs, and several United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme, are active in reforming the security and justice sectors to ensure that those institutions are responsive to those needs. In that regard, I also should mention the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as a groundbreaking development in the criminalization of sexual and gender-based violence."
-- H.E. Mr. Frank A. M. Majoor, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN
Uganda
"I would like now to touch on the issue of gender based violence against women and the issue of impunity. There should be zero tolerance for impunity. In that regard, I would draw the attention of the Council to the atrocities committed against women by the so-called Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda. Uganda is a partner with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in making sure that the perpetrators of those crimes are made to answer for their heinous actions.
But all are also aware that there are ongoing peace talks in Juba, in southern Sudan, between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the long running conflict. Despite some obstacles, progress has been made, and the Ugandan Government is determined that the talks will succeed. In the event of a comprehensive agreement being reached, the Government of Uganda has offered amnesty to the indicted leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. We have to balance the need for justice with the imperatives of peace and stability in northern Uganda. I must make it clear, though, that we are not condoning impunity. There are traditional ways of punishing perpetrators, while at the same time achieving justice and reconciliation, including the provision of reparations to the victims.
The Government of Uganda has appointed a team of lawyers to study this Acholi tradition and to make sure no impunity is condoned. The Government will make sure that the traditional system is consistent with international standards for dealing with impunity. In this direction, we are walking in step with the International Criminal Court."
-- H.E. Mr. Francis K. Butagira, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the UN
Several states made explicit references to the ICC, namely, France, Finland, The Netherlands, and Uganda (in the order of their statements). Excerpts of these statements are below.
EXCERPTS OF STATEMENTS
France
"With regard to the protection of women during conflict, the Darfur crisis and the situation in Ituri show that violence, especially sexual violence, against women unfortunately continues to be widespread, and often is carried out with impunity. The Secretary-General's in-depth study on all forms of violence against women (A/61/122/Add.1) highlights the gap between progress that we have made in the normative sphere - whether it be through Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), through progress in international humanitarian law or through the Statute of the International Criminal Court - and the continuing situation on the ground. This year, France and the Netherlands are submitting a draft resolution to the General Assembly one of whose elements will be a request to each United Nations organ to examine the means that it can employ to reduce this gap between norms and the reality on the ground."
-- H.E. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière, Permanent Representative of France to the UN
Finland, on behalf of the European Union
"We urge that impunity be ended for all perpetrators by strengthening the legal and judicial systems and by enacting and enforcing legislation to ensure investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators. The EU stresses that impunity must be excluded from all war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and gender-based crimes, and it reiterates its support for the International Criminal Court in this regard."
-- H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Rehn, Minister (Former Minister of Defence) of Finland, on behalf of the European Union
The Netherlands
"We must turn the tide and take action now. Gender-based violence is not an inevitable consequence of war and conflict. Resolution 1325 (2000) highlighted the importance of women's protection needs, and several United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme, are active in reforming the security and justice sectors to ensure that those institutions are responsive to those needs. In that regard, I also should mention the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as a groundbreaking development in the criminalization of sexual and gender-based violence."
-- H.E. Mr. Frank A. M. Majoor, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN
Uganda
"I would like now to touch on the issue of gender based violence against women and the issue of impunity. There should be zero tolerance for impunity. In that regard, I would draw the attention of the Council to the atrocities committed against women by the so-called Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda. Uganda is a partner with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in making sure that the perpetrators of those crimes are made to answer for their heinous actions.
But all are also aware that there are ongoing peace talks in Juba, in southern Sudan, between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army, aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the long running conflict. Despite some obstacles, progress has been made, and the Ugandan Government is determined that the talks will succeed. In the event of a comprehensive agreement being reached, the Government of Uganda has offered amnesty to the indicted leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. We have to balance the need for justice with the imperatives of peace and stability in northern Uganda. I must make it clear, though, that we are not condoning impunity. There are traditional ways of punishing perpetrators, while at the same time achieving justice and reconciliation, including the provision of reparations to the victims.
The Government of Uganda has appointed a team of lawyers to study this Acholi tradition and to make sure no impunity is condoned. The Government will make sure that the traditional system is consistent with international standards for dealing with impunity. In this direction, we are walking in step with the International Criminal Court."
-- H.E. Mr. Francis K. Butagira, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the UN
