[Geneva Call, Geneva, 19 July 2012] Geneva
Call
launches
a
new
Deed
of
Commitment
towards
an
end
to
sexual
violence
and
gender
discrimination
The
Deed
of
Commitment
on
the
Prohibition
of
Sexual
Violence
in
Armed
Conflict
and
towards
the
Elimination
of
Gender
Discrimination
is
Geneva
Call’s
third
Deed
of
Commitment.
Launched
in
July
2012,
it
is
a
standard
and
universal
document
that
gives
armed
non-State
actors
(ANSAs)
the
opportunity
to
formally
take
ownership
of
international
standards,
and
prevent
and
prohibit
sexual
violence
in
situations
of
armed
conflict.
This
Deed
of
Commitment
is
a
tool
that
enables
Geneva
Call
to:
- engage
with
ANSAs,
inform,
educate
and
sensitize
them
on
the
impact
of
sexual
violence,
and
on
the
relevant
international
legal
framework,
leading
to
a
formal
prohibition,
expressed
through
changes
in
policy
and
practice;
and - encourage
ANSAs
to
eliminate
discrimination
between
men
and
women,
formally
change
policy,
and
ensure
an
increased
participation
of
women
in
decision-?making
processes
at
all
levels.
Aurélie
Lamazière,
Geneva
Call’s
Gender
Issues
Co-ordinator,
welcomed
the
Deed
and
the
contribution
it
is
making
to
the
protection
of
civilians
in
situations
of
armed
conflict.
“Talking
about
sexual
violence
can
be
a
very
sensitive
matter,
nevertheless
we
believe
that
many
ANSAs
will
respond
positively
to
the
commitment
that
the
Deed
represents. Even
so,
we
recognize
the
challenges
in
terms
of
implementation,
and
monitoring
compliance.
It
is
a
matter
of
the
protection
of
all
civilians
in
times
of
conflict,
whatever
the
challenges. That
is
the
motivation
of
Geneva
Call.”
Signature
of
Geneva
Call’s
Deed
of
Commitment
is
one
of
several
steps
that
ANSAs
can
take
towards
improved
respect
for
international
norms.
Understanding
their
reality
and
context
is
also
an
essential
step
in
the
engagement
process.
Informing,
sensitizing
and
moving
ANSAs
towards
changes
in
behaviour
will
all
help
ensure
better
compliance
with
international
standards.
Geneva
Call
has
initiated
dialogue
with
ANSAs
on
the
basis
of
the
Deed,
and
is
working
with
civil
society
and
other
stakeholders
in
conflict
areas
to
inform,
educate
and
dialogue
on
the
issues
that
the
Deed
of
Commitment
raises,
using
training
tools
developed
specifically
for
the
ANSA
context.
As
with
all
Deeds
of
Commitment
under
Geneva
Calli,
the
Republic
and
Canton
of
Geneva
will
act
as
custodian. Where
possible,
signature
ceremonies
take
place
in
the
Alabama
Room
where
the
first
Geneva
Convention
was
signed
in
1864.
Geneva
Call
wishes
to
thank
all
the
individuals,
donors
and
partners
who
have
contributed
to
the
development
of
this
Deed
of
Commitment,
and
looks
forward
to
working
with
all
interested
stakeholders.
The
Deed
can
be
downloaded
at
http://www.genevacall.org/resources/deed-of-commitment/f-deed-of-commitment/GC2012_DoC_GENDER_SVD_ENG.pdf
For
further
information,
please
contact:
Aurélie
Lamazière
Gender
Issues
Co-ordinator
+
41
879
10
50
www.genevacall.org
