UNSC Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict – Canada’s National Statement

14 April 2021

Madam/Mister President

This statement is on behalf of Canada.

It is over 20 years since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 and first called on States and other parties to conflict to take special measures to prevent conflict-related sexual violence. There has been progress since then, including an improved understanding of the extent and multi-faceted nature of this violence and, although insufficient by far, an increased number of prosecutions and convictions.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remind us of how fragile this progress is. While the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, terror and torture has continued, the pandemic further has complicated the pursuit of accountability and justice. The pandemic has created new, gender-specific protection concerns, including those linked to curfews, checkpoints and border closures, and has restricted the operating space for organizations delivering medical, psychosocial and legal services to victims and survivors. We must do better, and we must stay focussed on addressing the gaps.

As Member States, we must:

• Investigate credible allegations and hold perpetrators to account;
• Allow unhindered access for independent third parties to document violations; and
• Provide comprehensive support and meaningful justice for victims and survivors.

We must also address the root causes of this violence. Whether acts of sexual and gender-based violence constitute conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, or other types of sexual and gender-based violence, they represent an abuse of power. Often, these acts are also an expression of misogyny, intolerance, discrimination and racism, and socio-cultural norms that condone, enable and perpetuate sexual and gender-based violence.

Too often, victims and survivors are targeted on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. We welcome the participation of the LGBTI Core Group, of which Canada is a member, in this open debate for the first time. This is real progress that will bring much needed attention in the Security Council to the issue of conflict-related sexual violence against LGBTI persons.

Canada thanks the NGO Working Group for facilitating a representative from the South Sudan Women with Disabilities Network to share her expertise with the Council. Her account highlights the importance of an intersectional approach in addressing conflict-related sexual violence, and of a response informed by all victims and survivors.

Gender inequality, conflict and fragility are inextricably linked. Almost all countries that feature at the bottom of global gender equality indexes are also fragile or conflict-affected. Inclusive and gender-equal societies are safer for everyone. Many of the best examples of leadership during the pandemic came from women. Yet women led fewer than 7% of countries at the pandemic’s onset, and a survey of 30 countries with COVID-19 task forces showed that only 24% of members were women. In conflict-affected countries, they represented 18%.

Canada is proud to co-lead the Generation Equality Forum’s Action Coalition on Feminist movements and leadership, and to be a catalytic member of its Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Assistance Compact. The Generation Equality Forum is a unique civil society-centered initiative that will secure a set of concrete, ambitious, and transformative commitments to achieve progress towards gender equality.

Canada’s feminist foreign policy seeks to ensure that human rights, gender equality, diversity and inclusion are front and center of all our international efforts and engagements. This includes efforts to advance women’s participation and leadership in conflict resolution, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.

Canada launched an advocacy campaign this year – Peace By Her – to recognize, support, protect and include women peacebuilders. Too often women peacebuilders lack adequate funding, are generally under-recognized, excluded from formal peace processes, and targeted by gender-based threats and violence for their work building peace and fighting repression. In addition to this campaign, Canada is providing $5M specifically to support grassroots women peacebuilders.

Canada also seeks to prevent sexual and gender-based violence at home, including by addressing the disproportionate levels of violence targeting Indigenous women and girls. Ending all forms of gender-based violence and systemic discrimination against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex and Asexual plus people in Canada, is an integral part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation.

Lastly, Canada commends the Secretary-General for his report and encourages this Council to follow its recommendations, including to:

• Continue to incorporate sexual violence as a stand-alone designation criterion for sanctions, including when used as reprisal against women in public and political life;
• Continue to invite the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to share information with sanctions committees; and
• Support the accelerated deployment of women protection advisers to peace operations.

These recommendations are crucial for achieving greater coherence to and efficiency in the UN’s response to conflict-related sexual violence.

Thank you.