next three days -- violence against women in times of armed conflict. While I cannot be with you today, please know that I am with you in spirit, and you with me as I undertake this mission.

I must thank the organizers -- in particular Indai Sajor and Yayori Matui, as well as the Asian Center for Women's Rights, Asia Japan Women's Resource Center, Japan Organizing Committee and

Kanagawa Human Rights Center -- for not only recognizing the significance of holding an international conference on violence against women in times of armed conflict at this time in history,

but also undertaking the tremendous task of organizing it. Thank you for the invitation to attend, what looks to be an invaluable meeting. I look forward to receiving the report, which will be

considered in my 1998 report to the UN Commission on Human Rights. Since violence against women during times of armed conflict is one of priority themes of my 1998 report to the Commission, the

Conference is particularly timely and will, no doubt, provide valuable information and a diversity of perspectives and experience.

As you know, more than 35 armed conflicts continue to rage throughout the world. Simultaneously the international community grapples with the effects and implications of armed conflict, attempting to create mechanisms of accountability for perpetrators of war crimes through the likes of the War Crimes Tribunals on the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and the International Criminal Court.

Throughout history, we have seen that violence against women is an integral aspect of militarization and war. In some form or another -- when perpetrated by the state's security forces, armed

opposition groups, or by other state or non-state actors -- violence against women is rampant in context of armed conflict, whether such conflict is found in Afghanistan, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Peru, Turkey, Rwanda, Sri Lanka or the former Yugoslavia. As new conflicts erupt and old conflicts drag on, it is imperative that such violence be made a priority theme on the international agenda and in the efforts being undertaken to create mechanisms of redress and accountability. Unfortunately, as we have seen, prioritization of violence against women in any context does not come organically to mainstream human rights and humanitarian mechanisms.

Coming from a state in which an armed conflict has been fought between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for over a decade, I am only too familiar with the

devastating effects of armed conflict. Of the many victims -- combatants and non-combatants alike -- women bear a particularly strong burden. The fact that 80 percent of the worlds refugee population is comprised of women and their children is testament not only to the unique hardships faced by women during armed conflict -- which is the greatest refugee producer -- but also to the level of violence perpetrated against women during times of armed conflict.

While both men and women are targeted by similar violence and human rights abuses during times of armed conflict, women have the added burden of being subjected to gender-specific forms of

violence as well. Violence against women in armed conflict takes multiple, overlapping forms -- the most immediately apparent being various forms of sexual violence. Rape and sexual assault,

military sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced impregnation and pregnancy, and sexual mutilation are some of the forms of violence that are used uniquely against women. In addition, women

are victims of more traditionally recognized human rights violations such as torture, disappearance and arbitrary executions that likewise have overt gendered components.

Rape and other forms of sexual violence are used as instruments of violence and terror -- as torture, punishment, intimidation, coercion, humiliation and degradation. Nonetheless, it is only recently that the international human rights community has begun to recognize rape as violence rather than as an assault on honour or a crime against morality. Thus, although rape is one of the most widely used types of violation against women and girls, it remains the least condemned war crime.

But progress has been made. Exciting changes are taking place at the normative level -- particularly though the work of the international tribunal on the former Yugoslavia, which has broadened the understanding of rape under international law. The struggle to shift the paradigm from that which is embodied in international instruments such as the Geneva Conventions – which use the "honour" or morality framework -- to that which has been articulated through the indictments at the ICTY continues, however, through the process of drafting the statute for the proposed International Criminal Court.

As you well know, there is much work to be done on the issue. My fourth report -- on which I am currently working -- will tackle issues of violence against women by the State, including during

times of armed conflict by both sides to the conflict. Like my other reports, the 1998 report will not only identify the issues and context in which such violence occurs, but also include country specific information, facts, figures, cases studies and recommendations. Your assistance in accomplishing this enormous task is most welcome. Specifically, I am in need of concrete information -- facts and figures -- about violence against women in armed conflict. Also, I would ask each of you to compile

recommendations for action to be taken at both the international and national level, which I will consider in preparing my report.

Thank you again -- both organizers and participants -- for your efforts during the next three days. I look forward to receiving your report.

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