In Hindsight: Negotiations on Resolution 2467 on Sexual Violence in Conflict

May 2, 2019 | What's in Blue
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On 23 April, Germany convened a high-level open debate on sexual violence in conflict, a key event of its April presidency (S/PV.8514). Resolution 2467 was adopted, following difficult negotiations that only concluded during the debate. When the resolution passed with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (China and Russia), Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas, who was chairing the meeting, said: “That was hard work…and not only today”.

Three permanent members of the Council (China, Russia, and the US) expressed opposition to several aspects of the text during the negotiations, and at various stages of the process, all three threatened to use their veto. The original draft resolution was ambitious. Designed to focus on a “survivor-centered approach” to preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict, it addressed several issues that were controversial for these permanent members. Among the contentious issues were whether to include language on the sexual and reproductive health of victims of sexual violence, whether to establish a formal mechanism (that is, a working group) on sexual violence in conflict, references to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and recognition of LGBTI as a vulnerable group.