国际英语新闻：UN Security Council urges end to violence against women, highlights women's vital role in pe

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- On the 10th anniversary of the Security Council's landmark resolution on women, peace and security, the world body held a day-long debate here Tuesday with loud calls to end impunity for violence against women and girls, as well as the need to include more women in all stages of peace processes.

With nearly 90 speakers, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN under-secretary-general for gender equality and the empowerment of women (UN Women), Michelle Bachelet, the world body gathered here to review the implementation of resolution 1325.

At the start of the debate, a presidential statement was adopted, where the 15-nation Council expressed their "grave concern" over women and girls being disproportionately affected by conflict.

Reaffirming their "commitment to the continuing and full implementation" of resolution 1325, the Council called on the " complete cessation" of all forms of violence against women and girls, including acts of sexual violence, by all parties to armed conflict immediately.

Ten years ago, the Security Council resolution 1325 was adopted, recognizing the need for greater involvement by women in peace and security, and aimed at ending sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflict.

The resolution acknowledged the role of women "not simply as victims but as agents of change," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here in a televised message.

"Resolution 1325 will never be implemented successfully until we end sexual violence in conflict," Ban said. "We must hold those responsible to account, whether the crimes are committed by state or non-state parties."

While Ban noted some progress made in the implementation of the resolution, he said that the last ten years have been "marred with repeated instances of abuse" against women, like the recent mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), that run counter to the principles of resolution 1325.

Clinton called the incident a "stark reminder of the work that is still ahead."

"Those rapes and our failure as an international community to bring that conflict to an end and to protect women and children in the process, stand as a tragic rebuke to our efforts thus far," she said.

Urging the international community to do more, she said "we must think creatively." "And yes, we may have to challenge some conventional wisdom about how best to end the impunity of those who not only conduct these horrible violations of human rights, but those who permit them to do so," Clinton added.

Alain Le Roy, the UN under-secretary general for peacekeeping operations, warned that "the challenges ahead remain immense" as he called for a strong "collective response" that "must demonstrate our unwavering commitment to upholding the respect and rights of women."

"Our greatest indicator of success must remain however, the extent to which our collective energies contribute to building a sustainable, nationally-owned platform from which local women, working with men, can themselves define, shape and influence the course of peace in their countries," Le Roy said.

Presenting Ban's latest report on women, peace and security at the debate, Michelle Bachelet, under-secretary general for UN Women, said it provided the world body with recommendations for a new framework for the implementation of the resolution. She highlighted that a comprehensive set of indicators will serve as a monitoring tool.

Bachelet, who was appointed head of UN Women last month, said her organization will do all it can to push forward the objectives of resolution 1325, including the integration of women's needs and perspectives into peace-building and the increased protection of women during and post-conflict.

Presently, the Council is "better equipped than ever before to ensure that women engage in peace talks and to build a stronger protection environment for women," she noted.

"What is needed now is determined leadership -- by all of us working together," Bachelet stressed.