Africa: Despite promises violence against women continues unabated, Amnesty says

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Public Statement
AI Index: ACT 77/078/2004
28 October 2004

Amnesty International welcomes today's open debate in the UN Security
Council to assess implementation of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and
security. The organization urges all governments, the Security Council and
the UN system as a whole to take concrete steps to make real the promises
of Resolution 1325 for all women living in conflict affected situations.

Adopted in 2000, Resolution 1325 calls for increased protection of women
during armed conflict, for an end to impunity for gender-based abuses
during and after conflict, and the participation of women at all levels of
decision-making related to prevention, management and resolution of
conflict. Yet, notwithstanding modest progress in mainstreaming gender
considerations in peace-keeping initiatives, violence against women and
girls in conflict affected situations continues unabated and most acts of
violence are never investigated nor are the perpetrators brought to
justice.

The Security Council has before it the first Secretary-General's report on
the state of implementation of Resolution 1325. Amnesty International
welcomes this report and in particular its emphasis on preventing and
responding to gender-based violence in armed conflict. Amnesty
International shares the Secretary-General's concern that "thus far, the
international community has not been able to prevent acts of violence
against women from occurring during armed conflict".

Earlier this year, Amnesty International launched a global Stop Violence
Against Women campaign, which aims to highlight the responsibility of the
state, community and individual to take action to stop violence against
women and girls and end impunity for perpetrators of such violence. Our
research to date shows no reduction in this phenomenon. Rather, we are
currently witnessing horrific levels of gender- based violence committed
with impunity against women and girls in many conflict- affected
countries, which the UN Secretary-General said "has reached almost
epidemic proportions".

Amnesty International believes that the Security Council and UN system as
a whole must do more to integrate the provisions of Resolution 1325 in
their work. Since the adoption of Resolution 1325 in October 2000, less
than 20 percent of Security Council resolutions include language on women
or gender. Together with other NGOs, Amnesty International is urging the
Security Council not only to call on the Secretary-General to establish a
comprehensive UN-wide action plan, but also to establish a focal point and
expert working group in the Security Council to ensure further integration
of Resolution 1325 in all relevant areas of its work.

Amnesty International also welcomes the Secretary-General's
recommendations on gender-based violence, and urges the Security Council,
member states, and United Nations entities to take all necessary measures
implement his recommendations:

* to apply increased pressure to parties to armed conflict to cease all
violations of the human rights of women and girls,

* to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes,
including sexual and gender-based violations, and

* to conduct gender-sensitive investigations and report findings
systematically to the Council.