EU Statement -- UN Security Council: Women, Peace and Security: Preventing conflict-related sexual violence through demilitarisation and gender-responsive arms control

Mister / Madam President, Distinguished Participants,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

This year's report from the Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence unveils a distressing surge in incidents of conflict related sexual violence, exacerbated by the proliferation of arms and increased militarization. Urgent action is necessary for all Member States to fulfil their relevant disarmament, non-proliferation and arms export control obligations, and take into account, when making an export assessment, the risk of the arms being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of sexual and gender-based violence, including against women and children.

The need to integrate considerations on sexual violence and gender equality into related legislative, policy and implementation frameworks is paramount. This can only be achieved with full, equal and meaningful participation of women in those processes. The EU has acknowledged this already in the 2018 EU strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons, and their ammunition, which emphasizes gender mainstreaming in projects combating gun violence. Women's leadership is crucial in these efforts. The Arms Trade Treaty explicitly requires States Parties to duly take into account the risks of sexual and gender-based violence in arms export assessments, which in turn contributes to the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence.

We have also backed this up with financing, for example by allocating €4.5 million for the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons and its International Tracing Instrument, focusing on global policy, regional implementation, and gender-responsive strategies.

Additionally, our civilian Common Security and Defence Policy Missions address Women, Peace, and Security issues alongside disarmament, non-proliferation and arms export control efforts. For instance, the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine recently organized seminars related to illicit arms trade, and the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya mainstreams a gender perspective into their small arms and light weapons trafficking and dissemination trainings.

Mister / Madam President,

A gender-responsive approach to preventing and addressing conflict-related sexual violence must be firmly at the heart of arms control, in particular regarding small arms and light weapons, to prevent the culture of impunity that shields perpetrators from accountability. Accountability goes beyond just punishing the perpetrators. It means recognizing and addressing the systemic factors that enable sexual violence to flourish in conflict settings. The European Union is committed to ending impunity for conflict-related sexual violence and ensuring justice at both the international and domestic level in a manner that is trauma-informed, places survivors at the centre, and upholds human rights and fair trial standards.

September marks the fifteenth anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the creation of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Let us use this anniversary to redouble our efforts to strengthen multilateral institutions and civil society organizations that are working to ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence. Moreover, let us commit to ensuring that resources match the global need to deliver justice for survivors and end these atrocities once and for all.

Due attention should also be given to guarantees of non-recurrence: States should take tangible action to stop and prevent the recurrence of conflict-related sexual violence, for example through institutional reforms, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes, and through security sector reform that emphasizes internal accountability and promotes effective civilian oversight. The Secretary-General's new Guidance Note on transitional justice provides useful direction in this regard.

UN also has other tools at hand. We emphasize the notable potential of the New Agenda for Peace, which provides an opportunity for renewed, comprehensive and gender-responsive action on these questions, including by the Security Council. We reiterate our call for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all peace processes and decision-making processes, and this includes those related to arms control. Too often women are excluded from these discussions. Furthermore, a gender responsive approach should guide the 4th Review Conference of the Programme of Action on SALW and its international tracing instrument, due to take place in New York this June.

Mister / Madam President,

While prioritizing civilian protection, we must remember that preventing conflicts remains the most effective means of ending conflict-related sexual violence. The EU is committed to fostering peace and security both within our borders and globally for the benefit of all peoples and nations.