Secretary-General Commends Passage of Resolution Rendering 19 June International Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to establish 19 June as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The Secretary-General commends Member States, and particularly the Government of Argentina, as the sponsor of the resolution, for the increasing priority given to conflict related sexual violence.

This resolution is the achievement also of the continued work by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, and his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, whose efforts have helped to galvanize political support resulting in concrete results at the national and regional levels to address conflict related sexual violence.

Women’s security and empowerment remain priorities for the Secretary-General.  The international community must not rest until all violence against women and girls is eliminated, and women’s full political and economic participation worldwide is ensured. These are critical for upholding human rights, as well as achieving sustainable development and peace.