Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at an annual open debate on Women and peace and security, Preventing conflict-related sexual violence through demilitarization and gender-responsive arms control

Thank you very much Mr. President,

Sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence is on the rise globally. It continues to be used as a tactic of war. This not only constitutes a serious violation of international law, and may amount to a war crime or a crime against humanity. It is also one of the most heinous crimes, and must be stopped.

We welcome this year’s focus of the open debate on preventing conflict-related sexual violence through demilitarization and gender-responsive arms control. We are appalled by the findings of the recent Secretary General’s report, as just presented by Special Representative Patten. We are thankful to Ms Ahmadi and Ms Gurira for their remarks and for their dedication.

Mr. President,

The availability of arms, particularly small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, significantly affects lives of women and girls. It has been mentioned today already but let me repeat that between 70–90 % of incidents of conflict-related sexual violence involve small arms and light weapons. Their illicit transfer, misuse, and in particular the ease to obtain them, continue to fuel armed conflict, violence, acts of crime and terrorism, as we see in several situations on the agenda of this Council, including in DRC, Myanmar, Sudan and Haiti. We strongly condemn all acts of sexual violence in all settings, including in Israel and Palestine, and call for their investigation.

To address this we must intensify our joint efforts. Let me make the following observations:

Firstly, states must strengthen national authorities, legislation, regulations and administrative procedures on control and transfers of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. This is necessary in order to ensure compliance with international standards, including the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the UN Firearms Protocol, the UN Program of Action on Small Arms, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Particular efforts must be made to prevent the diversion of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition to conflict and post-conflict zones, where conflict-related sexual violence is especially widespread.

Secondly, we must not work in silos. WPS Agenda is highly relevant when addressing arms proliferation. One way to integrate them is by incorporating provisions from relevant articles of the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant documents into National Action Plans on WPS, and by adopting a gender-responsive approach in national policies on arms control.

Thirdly, women remain highly underrepresented in international discussions on arms control and disarmament issues. However, their perspectives are essential for developing gender-responsive policies and strategies and to prevent the misuse of weapons for all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including in the context of conflict. Therefore, we call for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all processes and decision-making related to arms control and disarmament.

Mr. President,

Slovenia strongly condemns sexual and gender-based violence. We call upon all parties to any conflict to immediately cease all forms of conflict-related sexual violence. Response to any such violence must be rights based and survivor-centered. It should include access to and availability of sexual and reproductive health services, as well as psychosocial support for survivors.

We are appalled by the fact that impunity remains the norm, contributing to the creation of an environment conducive to the perpetration of sexual violence. We urge all member states to increase efforts to guarantee accountability for these crimes. This can be done through deployment of the UN Team of Special Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence and Women Protection Advisors, to assist national justice systems in conflict-affected societies. It is also important that survivors have access to justice in a safe and secure environment, where they can report the violence, feel safe and receive adequate legal support.

This Security Council should do more to address sexual and gender-based violence comprehensively. One such avenue is a more systematic integration of gender in sanctions regimes by including sexual and gender-based violence as a designation criterion for targeted sanctions in all relevant regimes. We also reiterate our call to all states and actors to comply with existing arms embargoes put in place by this Council in order to limit the availability and accessibility of arms.

Mr. President,

Women and girls are so much more than victims or survivors of this violence. They are peacebuilders, frontline responders and they have a critical role in providing much needed services to women and girls in conflict or post-conflict situations. We therefore strongly support women’s voices from the field. We call for consultations with women and women-led organizations and condemn any attempt to intimidate and silence them.

Thank you.

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