I. Introduction

1. The present report, which covers the period from December 2010 to November 2011, is submitted pursuant to paragraph 18 of Security Council resolution 1960 (2010), by which the Council requested me to submit a report on the implementation of that resolution, as well as resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). The report updates progress made in the implementation of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements and the placement of women’s protection advisers; provides information on parties to conflict credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for acts of rape or other forms of sexual violence; highlights major outcomes of missions and political engagements undertaken by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict; describes key initiatives taken by the United Nations to address conflict-related sexual violence; and outlines a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening collective efforts to combat this egregious crime.

2. The preparation of the report involved broad and extensive consultations with members of the 13-entity network called United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations field missions and country teams, and concerned Member States and non-governmental organizations. United Nations peacekeeping and political missions, as well as country teams, were the primary sources of information for the report.