Summary UN ambassador says in conflicts violence against women is widely used as an instrument of war.
NEW YORK (Online) - Pakistan has called for urgent steps to stop gender-based sexual violence and end impunity for perpetrators of sexual crimes.
Pakistan Ambassador to United Nations Masood Khan emphasizing that women are the most vulnerable group in armed conflicts said, “In conflicts, violence against women is widely used as an instrument of war”.
Masood Khan told the Security Council on Friday as the 15-member body debated “Women, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice.”
Noting appreciable progress towards promoting the women, peace and security agenda, the Pakistani envoy said much remained to be done in translating them into more tangible action on the ground.
He said Pakistan fully supports the objectives of the women and peace and security agenda.
Security Council’s decisions and direction were helping women caught in armed conflict situations, he added.
“We believe that the Security Council should continue to address these issues in accordance with its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security”, he said.
“Given women’s strong stakes in peace in how peace is negotiated, kept and consolidated, the role of women as peacemakers and peace-builders needs to be integrated into different stages of engagement, outreach and decision-making” he concluded.
