Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will work closely with the international community inpreventing and stamping out sexual violence in conflicts, said Ambassador DangDinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations (UN).

Theambassador made the affirmation at a high-level open dialogue on sexualviolence in conflicts held by the UN Security Council in New York on April 23.

Quyexpressed his concern over continued sexual violence in conflicts and their adverseimpacts like discrimination against victims as well as children born out ofsexual violence in conflict.

Apartfrom stepping up the prevention of conflicts, which have been seen as the rootcause of the problem, the international community needs to take prompt actionsand urgent solutions to ease the situation, he suggested.

Heapplauded the progress in urging concerned parties to make concrete commitmentsto preventing and handling this issue.

Quyproposed that priorities should be given to improving public awareness, eliminatingsocial discrimination and prejudice against the victims, and enhancingcooperation between relevant sides to improve the efficiency of support for thevictims, while highlighting the main role played by countries in this regard.

Thediplomat also emphasized that it is necessary to promote gender equality andwomen’s role.

Hestressed Vietnam’s stance on backing women’s participation in peace progressesand their role in developing the culture of peace, spreading humanitarianvalues, building peace and promoting sustainable development.

Thedialogue was chaired by Heiko Maas, Foreign Minister of Germany which isholding the UN Security Council’s rotating presidency in April.

Representativesof more than 80 member countries of the council strongly condemned the use ofsexual violence as a war and terror weapon, and committed and called forgreater medical, psychological and legal support to the victims.

Theyshared measures and experience in raising public awareness, building earlywarning index, training UN peace-keeping forces in sexual violence combat,promoting gender equality and providing post-conflict support to women.

Inhis remarks, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressed that justice andassistance are the two essential factors in the fight against sexual violencein conflicts.

Despitesjoint efforts, these acts are still going on, causing serious consequences towomen and girls, worsening conflicts and extinguishing peace prospects, hepointed out.

Thesituation requires a comprehensive approach, he said, emphasizing efforts toprevent these deeds, support the victims and improve the efficiency of lawenforcement in investigation and legal proceedings.-VNA