UGANDA: 1820 RESOLUTION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 001107 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019 TAGS: KPKO PHUM PREL CG KWWMN UG SUBJECT: UGANDA: 1820 RESOLUTION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE DEMARCHE RESPONSE REF: STATE 96047 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Aaron Sampson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) PolOff encouraged the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to support the U.S. drafted follow-on 1820 resolution on sexual violence in conflict on September 23 (reftel). The Mission stressed the need for a full-time Special Representative to coordinate across UN offices and take specific action, via a task force, to prevent sexual violence in conflict areas. MFA Multilateral Affairs Officer Isaac Sebulime agreed that more needed to be done to prevent sexual violence in conflict areas but was noncommittal in response to our request for support. He said the Government of Uganda (GOU) was not overly concerned about the creation of a new UN post, but would like to see the Special Representative's mandate and authority more clearly defined. Sebulime said the GOU was specifically interested in how the Special Representative would coordinate with pre-existing UN offices - such as UNHCR, the Special Advisor on Gender Issues, and the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict - responsible for protecting human rights in conflict zones. LANIER