SRSG/SVC Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/media/press-releases/

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United Nations Special Representative calls on Security Council for political, financial support for MENA response strategy on conflict-related sexual violence
(New York, 16 November 2015) Sexual violence has been a characteristic of the Syrian conflict, and has been perpetrated by most of the belligerent parties as a tactic of war and a tactic of terrorism, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Zainab Hawa Bangura, today told the UN Security Council, calling for political and financial support to strengthen the current response for communities affected by conflict-related sexual violence.

“Our response has to be beyond security and military considerations,” Special Representative Bangura said in her briefing to the Council.

In seven key points, she highlighted a range of interventions that will be required to aid survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and aim to prevent new attacks:
1. Mobilize political commitment, support and resources;
2. Ensure that protection and empowerment of women is consistently included as a central consideration in all efforts to prevent violent extremism and countering terrorism;
3. Enhance protection, early-warning and risk mitigation;
4. Strengthen the support and services to survivors of sexual violence;
5. Invest in deepening information, analysis and documentation on sexual violence;
6. Pursue accountability through investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes;
7. Ensure women’s participation in peace and mediation processes and the explicit inclusion of conflict-related sexual violence concerns.