Preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and emergency situations

We recall some of the commitments already made to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in 2000, the Declaration of a Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict launched in the margins of the 2013 UN General Assembly, the Call to Action on Protecting Women and Girls in Emergencies launched in London in November 2013, and the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict hosted in London in 2014.  We reaffirm our commitment to working to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and emergency situations, tackle impunity and protect the rights and well being of victims and survivors. We pledge to prioritise policy and practical support within States and with partner organisations wherever possible to:

1. Support health actors, police, military, civil society, and local communities build safer communities and enable all victims and survivors (including women, girls, men and boys and any children born as a result of sexual violence) to access health, psychosocial and economic support to help rebuild their lives.

2. Tackle the impunity of perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, and assist victims and survivors to access justice, by promoting the implementation of relevant domestic legislation which criminalises sexual and gender-based violence and provides protection, support and remedies.

3. Follow international best practice when carrying out investigations into sexual and gender-based violent crimes by, for example, disseminating, implementing the main principles and, if possible, offering training on the ‘International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict’ and on the “2015 Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence in Humanitarian Action” in situations of conflict, disaster and emergencies in order to promote survivor-centred approaches and facilitate prompt and effective investigation and prosecution of cases.

4. Take the life saving measure of responding to sexual and gender-based violence within humanitarian crises by committing to the Call to Action on Protection from Gender Based Violence in Emergencies and operationalizing the core objectives of the Call to Action Roadmap.

Action plan