Diplomats from around the world have urged an end to the persistent plague of sexual violence during armed conflicts, at a meeting at UN headquarters.

"Rape is a crime that can never be condoned. Yet women and girls in conflict situations around the world have been subjected to widespread and deliberate acts of sexual violence," said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

She was chairing debate on Thursday in the UN Security Council to demand an immediate end to the use of rape and all acts of sexual violence against women as weapons of war.

The day-long debate, at the initiative of the United States, which chairs the 15-member council this month, was to adopt a resolution that "demands the immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians with immediate effect."

"Today's resolution establishes a mechanism for bringing those atrocities to light," the US chief diplomat said.