{{The Minister of State in charge of Cooperation and Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, Amb. Eugene-Richard Gasana, has underlined Rwanda’s commitment in fighting sexual violence and rape as a tool of war and genocide due to Rwanda’s own experience.}}
He made the remarks while addressing a ministerial debate on sexual violence in armed conflict held at the United Nations Security Council.
The open debate was hosted by UK Foreign Secretary, William J. Hague, and was attended by several other ministers, from Morocco, Guatemala, Ecuador, Sweden and Lithuania.
Ambassador Gasana mentioned that the memory stemming from events that occurred during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, where innumerable women and girls were raped, gave Rwanda first-hand knowledge of the importance of strengthening internal justice mechanisms and building institutions that enhance the accessibility of justice.
“The memory of 1994 inspires Rwanda in our unyielding and heartfelt commitment to eradicate sexual violence as a weapon of war and genocide. In Rwanda, one of the foremost priorities is to protect and rehabilitate the dignity of victims,” said Ambassador Gasana
He also shared with the Council the progress that Rwanda has made in ending impunity. These include a range of policies notably Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Centres established at the community level throughout the country as well as the 2009 law on prevention and punishment of gender-based violence, which includes penalties and substantive mechanisms to empower police to deal with these crimes.
Amb Gasana took this opportunity to remind the Security Council that FDLR, which perpetrated heinous acts in Rwanda is unfortunately, and without impunity, continuing to do so in the DRC and in that regard, urged all countries, especially those in the region, “to fully implement resolution 1804 (2008) to refrain from providing any military, financial and political support to the FDLR.”
The open debate focused on accountability for crimes of sexual violence in conflict. A new resolution, Resolution 2106 (2013) was unanimously adopted. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon remarked that the resolution will send a strong signal to perpetrators that their acts will no longer be tolerated and that they will be held accountable.
The Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence, Ms. Zainab Bangura, stated that it reinforces the infrastructure and elements of past resolutions by outlining a comprehensive operational approach to fighting impunity.
Conflict prevention and fighting sexual violence were among key flagships of Rwanda during its UNSC presidency in April 2013.
On April 17, 2013, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, chaired an open debate on women, peace and security: sexual violence in conflict. Minister Mushikiwabo indicated that “the systematic sexual victimization of women and girls in conflict settings is now well understood as a crime against humanity that demands the urgent attention of the world.”
Drawing from Rwanda’s experience with rape during the genocide, the Minister called on the international community to redouble efforts to fight sexual violence as well as armed groups, such as FDLR, who continue to use rape as a consistent weapon of war.
{minaffet}
Leave a Reply