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On behalf of Special Representative Pramila Patten who cannot be here with us today, I would like to thank the Government of Albania for convening this Arria-formula meeting on preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence, and for giving the office the opportunity to speak before you today.

The use of rape as a tactic of war, torture, terror, and political repression has been history’s most hidden crime and cheapest weapon. It destroys, individuals, tears at the fabric of families and communities, and creates generational trauma. Sexual violence in conflict has been called the ‘world’s least-condemned crime of war’ due to chronic underreporting arising from fear of reprisals, profound trauma, inadequate legal frameworks and support services, and often the lack of capacity, political will, and resources to investigate and prosecute. Sadly, in his annual report to the Security Council this year, the Secretary-General features twenty country situations and 49 parties listed in his annex. Many of those listed are repeat offenders.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, in the face of these atrocities, we have been asked what the Security Council can further do to address sexual violence in conflict.

At this stage, the normative framework by the Council is clear and categorial: sexual violence is a threat to international peace and security; it is a war crime; a crime against humanity; a constituent act of genocide; and perpetrators must be held accountable.

In 2024, the mandate will commemorate its 15-year anniversary. The challenge before us is to translate commitments made on paper into compliance. While much rhetoric has been paid to the issue, the operationalization of the mandate has lagged too far behind and remains grossly under-resourced. Indeed, out of those twenty Member States in the annual report of the Secretary-General, only eight country situations have a senior women protection adviser deployed and, in most cases, they lack appropriate staffing.

The Security Council needs to exercise effective oversight to ensure that sexual violence dimensions are included in all relevant country and thematic consultations and debates and not relegated simply to an annual open debate. New mandates and renewals need to include conflict-related sexual violence and commensurate structures and resources must be included in budget discussions of the Organization.

The Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict that I lead, was created in 2009 by this very Council’s resolution 1888 as a tool

– bringing together Office of the Special Representative of Sexual Violence in Conflict, OHCHR, DPO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDP – to support national authorities’ efforts to bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice. Every year that I have served as team leader, the number of requests for assistance has increased and have become ever-wider ranging and sophisticated. Despite the Team’s express Security Council mandate, it continues to rely solely on voluntary funding. This situation is wholly inadequate and does not meet the words of this Council with action.

Furthermore, this Council has recognized the important work of the United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict network, which Special Representative Patten chairs, and brings together twenty-five Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ entities to leverage their expertise across humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence holistically. Once again, despite the rhetoric this network needs concrete support.

However, in a moment of pessimism and looming cynicism, I want to underline a message of hope. In the past decade, we have seen that where there is political will, specialized expertise, and adequate resources, accountability can occur. In Guinea-Conakry, a former head of state and 10 other senior officials stand trial in front of domestic courts for crimes committed in the 28 September events including sexual violence. In Colombia, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace has just opened a dedicated case for sexual crimes committed during the conflict; Likewise, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic domestic and hybrid courts have adjudicated sexual violence crimes as international crimes. Finally in 2022 in Nigeria, conflict-related sexual violence was included for the first time ever in an indictment against Boko Haram.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must be able to not only replicate these examples but expand on them. Our mandate believes firmly that we can.

Comprehensive domestic legislative frameworks, backed by specialized capacity and expertise among investigators, prosecutors, and judges are foundational to enabling domestic investigation and prosecution efforts. We work with national counterparts to ensure that domestic legislation is aligned with international standards and best practice.

Yet, we must deliver justice and not just law. A safe and supportive environment is equally foundational to enabling survivors to come forward and report crimes. Resolution 2467 mandates us to ensure a holistic victim-centric approach to our work. Sexual violence attacks the physical integrity and agency of survivors. The goal must therefore be to empower them at every step from accessing services, to reporting and testifying in court, to applying for reparations. Basic needs, such as safe shelter, food, medical care, trauma counselling, and psychosocial support are necessary, as well as livelihood and reintegration assistance. Often service providers and civil society groups are the first port of call for survivors on their journey toward justice.

Nor can we focus on criminal justice alone, given the gravity and magnitude of violations. Indeed, survivors routinely request the full range of transitional justice measures such as reparations, truth-telling, and guarantees of non-recurrence so that these crimes never happen again.

Mr. President, we meet at a crucial point in history; it is in periods of increasing instability that individuals, and especially women and girls, are most at risk for sexual violence. The experience of this mandate shows that conflict-related sexual violence is not an inevitable byproduct of war. Fifteen years after resolution 1888, we need the Members of this Council to step up their efforts toward operationalizing its resolutions meaningfully so the rhetoric in United Nations hallways and conference rooms is reality for survivors on the ground. Thank you.