Rediff
Dharam Shourie at the United Nations

New York, Oct 24: The United Nations Security Council has urged all countries and the UN system to enhance female participation in decision making and take specific steps to protect women and girls from gender-based violence during conflicts.

The council's appeal came in a presidential statement at the end of a day-long discussion on crimes against women.

Opening the debate in which some 60 member states participated, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said violence against women has reached "hideous and pandemic proportions" in societies recovering from conflicts.

Ban admitted that much needs to be done both by the UN and member states to give women equal participation and full involvement in peace and security matters.

Regretting "constant under representation" of women in formal peace processes, the 15-member council stressed on the need for enhancing their role in matters related to the maintenance of peace and security.

It also expressed "deep concern" that gender-based violence, particularly rape, remain "pervasive, and in some situations have become systematic," despite calls for the protection of women and girls.

In this context, Ban stressed the need to appoint more women in leadership positions in UN peace operations.

"Though this protective role cannot be overstated where it protects even one person, we cannot overlook the reality that we are not present in all locations in need of protection," stated Jean-Marie Guihenno, pointing out that the deployment of UN troops alone will not bring an end to rape and other forms of sexual violence and abuses.

To address discrimination against women, Guihenno stressed that no effort must be spared in putting more women in senior level positions and operational roles so as to encourage local women to take on roles in military and policing.

He said it was an "encouraging sign" that the Liberian National Police received three times the usual number of female applicants in the month following the deployment of the all-female police contingent from India to the UN mission in that country earlier this year.

"More women in the police force must be accompanied by a strategy to improve policing as a service equally accessible to women," Guihenno stated.

Stressing that determined action was necessary to eradicate gender-based violence, Rachel N Mayanja, special adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, said impunity for perpetrators and an insufficient response to the needs of survivors were morally reprehensible and unacceptable.

"Sexual violence in conflict, particularly rape, should be named for what it is: not a private act or the unfortunate misbehaviour of a renegade soldier, but aggression, torture, war crime and genocide, she said.