NATO reaffirms its commitment to combatting conflict-related sexual and gender based violence
“There can be no protection without participation, because, at its root sexual violence is a gendered issue,” Ms Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security said on Tuesday (23 April 2019), during her address to the United Nations Security Council‘s open debate on sexual violence in conflict.
“To effectively address sexual violence, we must address and dismantle all obstacles that impede women’s full participation in peace and security” Ms Hutchinson explained.
NATO supports global efforts to combat conflict-related sexual and gender based violence. Our missions and operations work closely with local authorities and communities to develop effective prevention strategies and to strengthen national efforts to investigate and hold perpetrators to account.
Ms Hutchinson concluded that NATO will “do even more to address conflict-related sexual violence within our operational mandates and continue, wherever we are deployed, to create the conditions for security that will allow women and girls to live free from abuse and violence.”
“Ultimately in tackling sexual violence against women and girls, we do more than help individual victims; we set a tone for the respect for fundamental dignities and human rights. By doing this we can lay a foundation for lasting stability.”