United Nations Security Council Resolution 2467 – Women and peace and security: Sexual violence in conflict

Resolution 2467 (2019)

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its commitment to the continuing and full implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013), and 2242 (2015) on women, peace and security, and relevant statements of its Presidents, and further emphasizing that persistent barriers to their implementation will only be dismantled through dedicated commitment to women ’s participation and protection and promotion of human rights, and consistent support to building women’s engagement at all levels of decision-making,

Recalling the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and reaffirming the obligations of State Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Optional Protocol the reto, urging states that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to them,

Further recalling the obligations applicable to parties to armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977,

Noting General Recommendation 30 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on Women in Conflict Prevention, Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations,

Bearing in mind the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the primary responsibility of the Security Council under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security,

Recognizing that States bear the primary responsibility to respect and ensure the human rights of all persons within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction as provided for by international law, and reaffirming that parties to armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians,

Affirming the primary role of Member States to implement fully the relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, and the important complementary role of United Nations entities and regional organizations,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 29 March 2019 (S/2019/280), and remaining deeply concerned over the slow progress in addressing and eliminating sexual violence in situations of armed conflict in particular against women and children, and noting as documented in the Secretary-General’s report that sexual violence occurs during and after armed conflicts throughout the world,

Recognizing the significance of the twenty-year anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), the progress made as well as the opportunity and need for far greater implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, remaining deeply concerned by the frequent under-representation of women in many formal processes and bodies related to the maintenance of international peace and security, the relatively low number of women in senior positions in political, peace and security -related national, regional and international institutions, the lack of adequate gender-sensitive humanitarian responses and support for women’s leadership roles in these settings, insufficient financing for women, peace and security, and the resulting detrimental impact on the maintenance of international peace and security,

Expressing deep concern at the full range of threats and human rights violations and abuses experienced by women and girls in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, and recognising that women and girls are particularly at risk and are often specifically targeted and at an increased risk of violence in conflict and post-conflict situations,

Emphasizing that advancing gender equality and women’s political, social, and economic empowerment is critical to the prevention of and response to sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and that the safety and empowerment of women and girls is important for their meaningful participation in peace processes, preventing conflicts and rebuilding societies, and that therefore women’s protection and participation are inextricably linked and mutually-reinforcing as reflected by all previous resolutions on women, peace and security,

Recognizing that the disproportionate impact of sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations on women and girls is exacerbated by discrimination against women and girls and by the under-representation of women in decision-making and leadership roles, the impact of discriminatory laws, the gender-biased enforcement and application of existing laws, harmful social norms and practices, structural inequalities, and discriminatory views on women or gender roles in society, and lack of availability of services for survivors, and further affirming the importance of promoting gender equality by addressing these and other root causes of sexual violence against all women and girls as part of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding,

Recognizing that sexual violence in conflict occurs on a continuum of interrelated and recurring forms of violence against women and girls, and recognizingthat conflict also exacerbates the frequency and brutality of other forms of gender-based violence,

Recognizing national ownership and responsibility in addressing the root causes of sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, and further recognizing that the consistent and rigorous prosecution of sexual violence crimes is central to deterrence and prevention, as is challenging the perceptions that sexual violence in armed conflict is a cultural phenomenon or an inevitable conseque nce of war or a lesser crime,

Reiterating the need for civilian and military leaders, to demonstrate commitment and political will to prevent sexual violence and enforce accountability, and that inaction and impunity for sexual violence crimes in conflict and post-conflict situation can send a message that the incidence of such crimes is tolerated,

Recalling the responsibilities of States to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, perpetrated against civilians and, in this regard, noting with concern that only very limited numbers of perpetrators of sexual violence have been brought to justice, while recognizing that in conflict and in post-conflict situations national justice systemsmay be significantly weakened,

Noting United Nations commissions of inquiry and United Nations fact-finding missions, as appropriate and where relevant, as mechanisms to verify and investigate allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law, and in accordance with their respective mandates to make recommendations to advance accountability and justice and protection for survivors, and, in accordance with their respective mandates and within existing resources, to partner with Funds and Agencies in the provision of specialised multi-sectoral services,

Recognizing the need for a survivor-centered approach in preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, further recognizing the need for survivors of sexual violence to receive non-discriminatory access to services such as medical and psychosocial care to the fullest extent practicable and need to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and that violations of the obligations on the treatment of victims can amount to serious violations of international law,

Reiterating its deep regret that civilians continue to account for the vast majority of casualties in situations of armed conflict and recalling with grave concern that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel armed conflicts and have a wide range of negative human rights, humanitarian, development and socioeconomic consequences, in particular on the security of civilians in armed conflict, including the disproportionate impact on violence perpetrated against women and girls and exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence in conflict,

Acknowledging the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty and noting the provisions in Article 7(4) of the Treaty that exporting States Parties shall take into account the risk of covered conventional arms or items being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children,

Recognizing the link between sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations and the illicit trade in natural resources, including so-called “conflict-minerals” and further recognizing the need for private sector actors to ensure that proceeds from materials acquired for their production processes do not fund armed groups that perpetuate conflict and sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations,

Recalling the important contribution of civil society, including women leaders and women’s organizations, to conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding, including preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict, affirming the importance of their sustained engagement and meaningful participation in all peace processes and remaining deeply concerned about threats, attacks and restrictions on the work of civil society organizations that inhibit their ability to contribute to international peace and security,

Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States in accordance with the Charter,

Welcoming the efforts of Member States, and recognizing the efforts of regional and subregional organizations, in implementing resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on Women, Peace and Security at the regional, national and local levels, including the development of action plans and other planning frameworks, with sufficient resources, and encouraging Member States to continue to pursue such implementation, including through strengthened monitoring, evaluation and coordination,

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8514th meeting, on 23 April 2019.