Africa-Press – Angola. Angola defended Tuesday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a proactive and victim-centered approach to eliminate all forms of conflict-related sexual violence (VSRC) and protect women’s rights.
By intervening in the open debate of the Security Council on “Women, Peace and Security – Conflict -Related Sexual Violence”, Angola’s permanent representative with the UN, Francisco José da Cruz, highlighted the need to reinforce national justice institutions, in order to effectively investigate and process sexual violence and sanctions against their perpetrators and facilitators.
The Angolan diplomat also stressed the importance of restoring global financing for medical, psychosocial, legal and secure support programs for the victims, recalling that recent budget cuts severely affected the international response, especially in Africa.
For Angola, he added, it is equally essential that sexual violence in conflict is treated as a priority in peacekeeping negotiations and security process reform processes, ensuring that individuals with an abuse of abuse do not occupy authority positions.
Francisco José da Cruz appealed to the greater participation of women at all levels of decision, under Resolution 1325 of the Security Council, stressing that female representativeness is decisive for mediation and for the construction of lasting peace.
The ambassador expressed concern about the annual report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who points to a 25% increase in cases of sexual violence in conflict in the last year, stressing that registered numbers do not reflect the actual dimension of the problem.
Regarding the African continent, he pointed out the situation in Sudan and the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the most alarming, aggravated by political, military and economic factors.
In the continental level, he recalled that the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union, held last February, approved the African Convention to end violence against women and girls (Aucevawg), a binding legal instrument that seeks to attack the deep causes of violence and consolidate the legal and institutional protection mechanisms.
‘An urgent and sustained action against sexual violence in conflict is crucial, which continues to have devastating consequences around the world, particularly in Africa,’ concluded the diplomat.
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