Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ

Minister Keldo,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

Today, we gather not just to mark an event, but to ignite a mission-one that carries the hopes and dreams of countless survivors of conflict-related sexual violence across the globe. The launch of this global Network and Community of Practice for Prosecutors and Practitioners Pursuing Criminal Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), represents a profound commitment to the many survivors I have encountered in conflict zones, individuals whose unwavering calls for justice resonate deeply within my mission. Their stories and pleas have shaped my strategic priorities since I took office nine years ago, guiding me toward a fundamental goal: to transform the pervasive culture of impunity into one grounded in justice and deterrence.

I extend my deep appreciation to all Member States, donors, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, and civil society partners who have supported this initiative.

Conflict‑related sexual violence are the most under-prosecuted crimes worldwide and the most challenging cases to prosecute with multiple barriers – legal, evidentiary, operational – often resulting in a lack of prosecutorial prioritization and suitable charging strategies. CRSV is an international crime that requires different investigative approaches. Prosecutors should possess not only knowledge about the specifics of evidence in such cases and algorithms for ensuring the confidentiality of survivors, but also the skills to conduct investigative interviews with survivor-oriented approaches. Yet, prosecutors operating in conflict and post conflict settings, face unique challenges. They often work in isolation without access to specialized tools, comparative jurisprudence, or peer support. Resource limitations, geographic isolation, training gaps, limited access to forensic resources all impede their work. Survivors confront stigma, fear of reprisals and trauma that many national systems are not equipped to address.

This Network is designed precisely to turn the tide and strengthen our collective response to these crimes, by equipping prosecutors to build cases in a trauma-informed manner that treats victims with humanity and improves the quality of evidence. The Network will also accelerate the spread of innovative prosecutorial strategies and best practices – from modes of liability and charging approaches, to evidentiary standards for crimes such as sexual slavery, forced marriage, and forced pregnancy, where jurisprudence has advanced and must now be shared across borders.

Justice for CRSV at the national level is possible as seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Ukraine– demonstrating that when systems are equipped, survivors are protected, and practitioners are supported, accountability can be achieved. Our objective now is to make such progress replicable, not exceptional, to make justice the norm, not the exception.

The new CRSV jurisprudence database, developed in collaboration with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵODC, bridges national practice with international standards and ensures that no prosecutor, investigator, or practitioner confronts these crimes alone.

The Network will allow practitioners to learn from one another, exchange strategies, share jurisprudence, and strengthen the specialized expertise required to turn survivors’ demands for justice into results. By embedding trauma‑informed practice into evidence management, training, and protection, the Network will help restore confidence in justice systems that survivors too often view with fear or mistrust.

Our message must be clear:

CRSV will be investigated, prosecuted, and punished.

Survivors will be supported.

Evidence will be safeguarded.

Prosecutors will be equipped.

Let me conclude by also highlighting the rewarding nature of this work. Those of us committed to it find purpose in the shared sense of relief when perpetrators are held accountable for committing heinous acts and when victims feel safe, believed, or vindicated. We are proud when we can restore humanity, dignity, and credibility to victims after those things were cruelly stripped away. And we have seen firsthand how the law, when employed skillfully and knowledgeably, can make that possible. In this regard, this launch is more than the unveiling of a platform. It represents a milestone in the global fight against impunity for CRSV.

The Network will not merely support practitioners; it will accelerate global progress toward accountability, drive legal innovation, and strengthen the foundations of peace and security. Let this launch be a call to action. I invite all Member States to join the Network: encourage your prosecutors to participate actively and support the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Team of Experts (TOE)’s work so this community remains vibrant and resourced in the years ahead.

Together, we can transform isolated efforts into a global movement for justice – making justice the rule and impunity the exception.

Thank you.