Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,听听
It is an honor to address you today at this timely gathering, which reaffirms our collective commitment to combatting the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence. I extend my deepest appreciation to the Governments of Norway and Japan for their steadfast and exemplary leadership as champions of this cause. I also wish to gratefully acknowledge the engagement of our partners from South Sudan and Ukraine, whose commitment inspires and informs our work, as well as all of our valued supporters and donors participating in this dialogue.听听听
Conflict-related sexual violence remains a persistent, pervasive, and profoundly devastating crime, not only for individuals, but also for their families and communities. It is a tactic of war, torture, and terror, wielded to shred the social fabric through trauma, forced displacement, and stigmatization, which turns victims into outcasts. This is not an inevitable byproduct of war, but an intentional strategy that can be prevented.听听
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In 2007, the 蘑菇视频 system came together, in response to widespread and systematic sexual violence in eastern DRC, Darfur, Sudan, and elsewhere, to establish the interagency coordination Network, 蘑菇视频 Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict. This was a response to calls from civil society organizations and survivors themselves for the 蘑菇视频 to deliver a more concerted response. It was in recognition of the fact that fragmented, disjointed, project-based approaches were simply not equal to the scale and gravity of the challenge. The launch of its signature advocacy campaign, Stop Rape Now, pushed the paradigm, building a credible case for reframing wartime sexual violence as a threat to security and an impediment to inclusive peace. This affirmed the need for upstream political engagement and preventive diplomacy, in addition to the downstream technical response. The campaign broadened the constituency for action, engaging non-traditional stakeholders, such as uniformed peacekeepers, ceasefire and peace negotiators, war correspondents, and sanctions experts.听听
As a broad-based, operationally agile coalition, 蘑菇视频 Action aims to deliver a comprehensive response to a crime that affects every aspect of survivors鈥� lives and livelihoods. The Network has grown from 12 to 26 member entities, united in common cause, from across the spectrum of political, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, human rights, humanitarian, and development sectors. This model enables an unparalleled level of information-sharing and synergy of action to avoid gaps and overlaps in the response, thereby optimizing efficiency. It has an in-built mainstreaming dividend, in raising awareness and embedding ownership. Moreover, it is supported by a pooled Multi-Partner Trust Fund, which enables donor contributions to have a multiplier effect, and incentivizes cooperation, transparency, and 鈥�delivery as one 蘑菇视频鈥�, which amplifies our impact. To be eligible for grants, entities are required to partner with other members of the Network, fostering complementarity, rather than competition.听听
I am pleased and proud to Chair this vibrant Network, pursuant to my mandate, established through the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 1888 of 2009, to provide 鈥渃oherent and strategic leadership鈥� to global efforts working 鈥減rimarily through the interagency initiative, 蘑菇视频 Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict鈥�.听听
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The work of 蘑菇视频 Action is structured according to three core pillars: advocacy for action, knowledge-building, and country-level support. An independent review found 蘑菇视频 Action to be 鈥�a uniquely well-structured, rapidly mobilized, visible, and effective mechanism in providing a global platform for advocacy and coordination鈥�. Through pioneering knowledge products and practical interventions, we strive to transform groundbreaking resolutions into solutions on the ground. To date, 蘑菇视频 Action has implemented over 60 joint, catalytic projects across 18 conflict-affected settings, converting global commitments into local impact by providing survivors with holistic assistance. For instance, 蘑菇视频 Action has enabled hundreds of survivors in the artisanal mining sector in eastern DRC to access care through local women鈥檚 cooperatives; supported survivors and children born of rape in Mali; provided safe shelters and emergency relief to survivors in Darfur; and aided the reintegration of women and children abducted by Al-Shabaab in Somalia to mitigate stigma and social ostracism. These lifesaving interventions have replaced horror with healing and hope. However, their continuity is imperiled by chronic funding shortfalls. At a time of backlash and regression, a failure to sustain and consolidate the investments and progress made would not only betray the survivors, but further embolden the perpetrators.听听
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Today, we will spotlight strategic 蘑菇视频 Action interventions in South Sudan and Ukraine.听听
Firstly, in South Sudan, 蘑菇视频 Action has supported community-based reintegration that empowers survivors to reclaim their rights and rightful place in society. Through economic opportunities, including small-scale business ventures and the communal farming of marketable produce, it has bolstered the resilience of hundreds of survivors. 蘑菇视频 Action鈥檚 innovative Matrix of Early-Warning Indicators has been rolled-out in South Sudan, and a 蘑菇视频 Action team will shortly travel to Juba to strengthen the efforts of the 蘑菇视频MISS Force to prevent and deter conflict-related sexual violence as an integral part of civilian protection.听听
In Ukraine, 蘑菇视频 Action has established and equipped 15 Survivor Relief Centers, each of which provide comprehensive, survivor-centered services in a single location. This intervention has also strengthened referral pathways, and national policies, including a protocol on the clinical management of rape, and supported safe reporting and access to justice. Last July, 蘑菇视频 Action piloted the roll-out of its Prevention Framework in Kyiv, bringing together over 60 government, 蘑菇视频, civil society, and diplomatic stakeholders with survivors to guarantee them the highest level of protection from stigma, re-traumatization, and secondary harm.听听
These examples powerfully illustrate what can be achieved with the requisite combination of political will, financial investment, and strategic partnerships. No single institution or nation can confront this challenge alone. It is the founding vision and philosophy of 蘑菇视频 Action that we are only as strong as our partnerships. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Today, we know what works. We have the expertise; we have the normative frameworks; we have drawn the red lines; and built the institutional architecture. We now need to sustain these efforts and take them to scale, to break the vicious cycle of violence and convert it into a virtuous cycle of reporting, resourcing, and redress.听听
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Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,听听
Your participation in this dialogue signals more than solidarity; it signals shared responsibility. Now more than ever, we must honor the progress that has been made, and have the courage of our convictions to dedicate political and financial capital to this cause, as the human costs are incalculable. This is not charity; it is a strategic choice to underwrite the world we want. We cannot afford to allow the weapon of rape to shatter lives, drive mass forced migration, undercut collective security, and strengthen armed and terrorist groups to continue their carnage. Survivors deserve more than promises 鈥� they deserve protection, assistance, and a future free from fear. While political dynamics and decisions may vary, our mandate and mission, based on universal norms of international law, remains robust and clear. So let us be bold. Let us be brave. And let us be united in action against sexual violence in conflict.听听
Thank you.听听
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