Statement on SA's position on US Draft UN Resolution on Eliminating Rape

1. About ten days ago, the United States (US) delegation introduced a draft resolution on eliminating the use of rape as a State policy.
   
2. The US draft seemed to create two categories of rape, i.e. that rape by the military is more despicable than rape by civilians. The draft did not even address the assistance to the victims of rape.
   
3. Angola, in its capacity as Chair of the Africa Group for November, introduced amendments by the Africa Group to balance the draft resolution so that it addressed the crime of rape in all its manifestations.
   
4. South Africa joined with other Africa Group delegations to reaffirm the call for the elimination of rape in all its forms and manifestations whether perpetrated by civilians or military personnel or even if it may have been government-sponsored.
   
5. Furthermore, the US draft resolution was problematic in that it was selective in its reference to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action on Women. The language of the draft resolution seems to weaken the obligations to these international instruments.
   
6. South Africa condemns rape unequivocally no matter who the perpetrators may be or in whatever situations.
   
7. In fact, during March 2007 when South Africa was President of the Security Council we presented a Presidential Statement to mark International Women’s Day and which condemned all forms of violence against women and girls during armed conflicts, including grave sexual violence.
   
8. South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and during negotiations on the Rome Statute, we were instrumental in the inclusion of rape as a war crime.
   
9. South Africa participates in United Nations peacekeeping Missions in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d’Ivoire, among others and subscribes to the United Nations zero-tolerance policy with regard to sexual abuse by peacekeepers. Should any of our troops be charged with rape, they are subject to prosecution under South African law.
   
10. South Africa as a member of the Africa Group is pleased to have contributed meaningfully to the draft resolution so that it may address rape in all its manifestations.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

 11 November 2007