UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton characterized sexual violence against women and girls as a threat to national security after chairing a UN Security Council session here on Wednesday.

    "The role and rights of women in today's world is a critical core concern of foreign policy," she told reporters. "It is national security."

    Clinton made the comments after the 15-nation Council unanimously adopted a resolution that outlines actions the UN and nations can take to help prevent conflict-related sexual violence and end impunity.

    Hillary, who met with rape victims in Africa last month, said women have a vital role in ending conflicts and charting new courses for their society.

    "The more we know about conflicts the more we realize that women, who do not start conflicts, are often the victims," she said, "but women have tremendous potential to be peacekeepers and peacemakers."

    Sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war against women and children in many areas around the world. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, approximately 1,100 rapes are being reported each month, with an average of 36 women and girls raped every day, according to the U.S. State Department.

    The United Nations Development Fund for Women reported that in Rwanda, up to half a million women were raped during the 1994 genocide.

    Among other measures, the U.S. drafted resolution calls on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a special representative to coordinate and lead efforts to end sexual violence in armed conflicts.