Statment by the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, Ambassador Martín García Moritán

June 21, 2016

 

Very briefly, to conclude this event, and thanking you all once again for your presence here today, especially our most distinguished panelists, I would like to make a few closing remarks.

We sincerely believe that the fight against sexual violence in conflict is one we all must take together, as Member states and as the international community as a whole, in order to redouble and joint our efforts to eradicate this horrible crimes.

The objective of this International Day is to raise awareness on the necessity to put an end to all forms of conflict-related sexual violence, especially against women, children, the poor, ethnic and religious minorities and other vulnerable groups, and to engage world leaders (particularly religious leaders of all beliefs) to actively prevent this despicable crimes.

The observance of this International Day constitutes a clear and urgent call upon all actors at the national and international level, as well as civil society, non-state actors, and all others, to end these violations, to timely and effectively provide comprehensive assistance for the victims of these crimes with the objective of their full reintegration in their respective societies, and to end the impunity of the perpetrators of these crimes by effectively holding them accountable of their actions by national and international judicial systems.

We must not lose the focus on the victims of conflict-related sexual violence. They should be the primary element of all our efforts. We must address this issue bearing in mind the need to effectively promote and protect the human rights of the victims.

We sincerely hope that this initiative will be able to grow and develop into a clear commitment by the international community to tackle this issue once and for all. We most certainly express and renew our commitment in that sense, and we look forward to count with the support of all in this endeavor.

In that sense, we hope that after planting this seed we would be able to come together and continue and double our efforts and commitment towards the eradication of this heinous reality.

I would like to thank you all once again for coming to this meeting today, and wish you all a very nice evening.

Thank you.