MaximsNewsNetwork: HILLARY CLINTON WOMEN WAR PEACE IRAN UN SECURITY COUNCIL NPT FORMAT

MaximsNewsNetwork: 30 September 2009 - UNTV: United Nations The Security Council unanimously approves a resolution demanding that all parties to armed conflict immediately take appropriate measures to protect civilians, including women and children, from all forms of sexual violence. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that violence against women is, "not cultural but criminal."

The Security Council today (30 September) demanded that all parties to armed conflict take immediate action to protect civilians, including women and children, from all forms of sexual violence, and urged greater measures by States and the United Nations to combat this scourge.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also requested that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appoint a Special Representative to provide coherent and strategic leadership to address sexual violence in armed conflict.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the United States, which holds the Councils rotating presidency for this month presided the meeting and told the Council that the issue of sexual violence in conflict can not and should not be separated from the broader security issues confronting the Security Council.

She added that the international communitys response should go beyond condemning this behaviour to taking concrete steps to end it, stressing that sexual violence is not cultural, it is criminal.

In a lighter moment, Clinton - who was defeated by President Barack Obama in last year's Democratic presidential primary quipped to general laughter that she kind of like(s) being a president.

The Secretary-General in his address to the Council said that parties to armed conflict continue to use sexual violence with efficient brutality and generally operate with impunity, and pointed out that the international community must do more to prevent violence, protect individuals, punish perpetrators and provide redress to victims.

In a report issued on the issue in July, Ban called for States to strengthen prevention and protection measures against the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon, a practice that is rife in armed conflicts in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Outside the Security Council Clinton responded to questions from reporters on a number of issues.

Regarding the Goldstone Report, which sharply condemns the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) actions during Januarys offensive in Gaza, she said that it is one-sided and that many of the recommendations can be appropriately dealt with by the institutions within Israel and in the Human Rights Council.

Turning to Irans nuclear programme, the Secretary of State said that Iran has a choice of complying with its international obligations, or grater isolation and international pressure.

Talks between senior officials from the five permanent members of the Security Council and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili are slated for tomorrow in Geneva.

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