United Nations Security Council Resolution 1960
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1960, adopted unanimously on December 16, 2010, after recalling resolutions 1325 (2000), 1612
(2005), 1674
(2006), 1820
(2008), 1882
(2009), 1888
(2009), 1889
(2009) and 1894
(2009), the Council requested information on parties suspected of patterns of sexual violence
during armed conflict to be made available to it.
The resolution was sponsored by 60 countries. Its adoption was praised by Human Rights Watch
, which called it a "a tremendous step toward ending this horrendous practice".
and for leaders to demonstrate commitment to prevent sexual violence, combat impunity
and uphold accountability, as inaction would send the wrong message. Perpetrators of war crime
s and genocide
had to prosecuted, emphasising the primary responsibility of states to respect and ensure human rights
of people within their territory.
The resolution noted that ending impunity was essential if a society was to recover from conflict, and in this regard, there needed to be better access to health care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and the needs of persons with disabilities. The Council recalled the number of sexual offences in the Rome Statute
of the International Criminal Court
. It welcomed attempts to address the issue in peacekeeping
missions, including tackling sexual violence and promoting the role of women in civil and military functions.
or other acts of sexual violence, which the Council would use to engage with the parties or take action against them. The list would be made public.
The resolution asked parties to armed conflict to make commitments against the use of sexual violence and investigations into alleged abuses, which the Secretary-General was asked to monitor. The Council stated its intention to designate criteria pertaining to acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence when reviewing or adopting sanctions. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General was instructed to devise monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence, while ensuring full transparency.
The Security Council praised the work of gender advisers and looked forward to the appointment of women protection advisers in peacekeeping missions. States were encouraged to use scenario-based training materials provided by the Secretary-General before the deployment of peacekeeping operations, with the Council pledging to pay attention to sexual violence in mandate
renewals and authorisations. Furthermore, states were asked deploy greater numbers of female police and military personnel in peacekeeping operations.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to strengthen the policy of zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel
, and report regularly to the Council on progress in implementing the current resolution.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1960, adopted unanimously on December 16, 2010, after recalling resolutions 1325 (2000), 1612
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612, adopted unanimously on July 26, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 , 1379 , 1460 and 1539 , the Council established a monitoring and reporting mechanism on the use of child soldiers.More than 50 governments and rebel groups...
(2005), 1674
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2006, after reaffirming resolutions 1265 and 1296 concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict and Resolution 1631 on co-operation between the United Nations and regional organisations, the Council...
(2006), 1820
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820 was unanimously adopted on 19 June 2008.- Resolution :The Security Council today demanded the “immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians,” expressing its deep concern that,...
(2008), 1882
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1882
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1882 was unanimously adopted on 4 August 2009.- Resolution :Parties to armed conflict engaging in patterns of “killing and maiming of children and/or rape and other sexual violence against children” must also be listed in the Secretary-General’s reports on...
(2009), 1888
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1888
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1888 was unanimously adopted on 30 September 2009.- Resolution :The Security Council decided this morning to specifically mandate peacekeeping missions to protect women and children from rampant sexual violence during armed conflict, as it requested the...
(2009), 1889
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1889
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1889 was unanimously adopted on 5 October 2009.- Resolution :The Security Council this morning called for a wide range of measures to strengthen the participation of women at all stages of peace processes, focusing on the period after peace agreements have...
(2009) and 1894
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1894
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1894 was unanimously adopted on 11 November 2009.- Resolution :Expressing deep regret that civilians continued to account for the vast majority of casualties in armed conflicts, the Security Council reaffirmed today its readiness to respond to the...
(2009), the Council requested information on parties suspected of patterns of sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
during armed conflict to be made available to it.
The resolution was sponsored by 60 countries. Its adoption was praised by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, which called it a "a tremendous step toward ending this horrendous practice".
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the slow progress on the issue of sexual violence in armed conflict, particularly against women and children. Moreover, despite calls to all parties involved in conflict and condemnation, such acts continued to occur. It reminded all states to comply with international lawInternational law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and for leaders to demonstrate commitment to prevent sexual violence, combat impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
and uphold accountability, as inaction would send the wrong message. Perpetrators of war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s and genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
had to prosecuted, emphasising the primary responsibility of states to respect and ensure human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of people within their territory.
The resolution noted that ending impunity was essential if a society was to recover from conflict, and in this regard, there needed to be better access to health care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and the needs of persons with disabilities. The Council recalled the number of sexual offences in the Rome Statute
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court . It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of 13 October 2011, 119 states are party to the statute...
of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
. It welcomed attempts to address the issue in peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
missions, including tackling sexual violence and promoting the role of women in civil and military functions.
Acts
The Council condemned the widespread and systematic use of sexual abuse against the civilian population in situations of armed conflict, and that taking steps to combat it would contribute towards the maintenance of international peace and security. It called for an end to all acts of sexual violence. The Secretary-General was asked to include information on parties suspected to be responsible for acts of rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
or other acts of sexual violence, which the Council would use to engage with the parties or take action against them. The list would be made public.
The resolution asked parties to armed conflict to make commitments against the use of sexual violence and investigations into alleged abuses, which the Secretary-General was asked to monitor. The Council stated its intention to designate criteria pertaining to acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence when reviewing or adopting sanctions. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General was instructed to devise monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence, while ensuring full transparency.
The Security Council praised the work of gender advisers and looked forward to the appointment of women protection advisers in peacekeeping missions. States were encouraged to use scenario-based training materials provided by the Secretary-General before the deployment of peacekeeping operations, with the Council pledging to pay attention to sexual violence in mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
renewals and authorisations. Furthermore, states were asked deploy greater numbers of female police and military personnel in peacekeeping operations.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to strengthen the policy of zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel
Sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian response
The sexual exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian workers first came to public attention with the release of a report in February 2002 of a joint assessment mission looking into the issue...
, and report regularly to the Council on progress in implementing the current resolution.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- Women's rightsWomen's rightsWomen's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...