14508/09 ADD 1 PL/vk 1 DG G COUNCIL OF THE ... - Europa

It is clear from the MS' reports to the UNECE that many countries are very concerned with and try
to take measures against trafficking for sexual purposes. Yet, the Belgian report is the only one
which explicitly connects the problem of trafficking in women with the strategic objective of
women and armed conflict and points to the work done in Belgium specifically related to Congo.
Belgium has taken specific action, promoted the adoption of complementary resolution 1820 (2008)
in the UN Security Council and set up a group within the UN Security Council of countries,
UNIFEM and some NGOs. Germany supported the drafting of the report on Resolution 1820 by
providing funding. What is relevant to the issue of trafficking is the behaviour of the staff of
international missions. According to the French Presidency’s report, three MS (ES, NL, SE) refer
explicitly to the use of codes of conduct for international missions. Codes of conduct regulate the
behaviour of peacekeepers; military and civilian personnel toward the local population, when they
are deployed in third countries. Some forbid any type of sexual relationship with the local
population. In the French report 15 MS say they “carry out actions to prevent sexual abuse and the
use of prostitutes and trafficking in women and children for male staff in police, humanitarian and
diplomatic services”. Except for Belgium and Germany, the MS make no reference to this in their
reports to the UNECE on the Beijing strategic objectives.
There is no shortage of international commitments in the area of women and armed conflict. Apart
from the Beijing strategic objectives, gender-based violence is considered a violation of
fundamental human rights, in the Geneva conventions regulating warfare, women are protected
against rape, forced prostitution and other gender-based violence. Furthermore, the CEDAW
convention, the Statute of the International Criminal Court, UN Security Council resolutions 1325
and 1820 all deal with related issues and objectives. While an international system of norms has
been developed that suggests strategies and sanctions in this field, implementation continues to be
weak. UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) is the international norm that reflects most
comprehensively Beijing Platform for Action strategic objectives in this area and resolution 1820
(2008) particularly reinforces the commitment to take action against sexual violence against women
during armed conflict. These two resolutions closely correspond to some PfA strategic objectives.
The French Presidency’s report discusses actions taken in the MS in response to UN SCR 1325.
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