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Thank you, Madam President,
Denmark commends the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this crucial debate.
Prime Minister Tuluka thank you for your presence her today and for both your countries and your personal commitment to this agenda.
Let me also thank Special Representative Patten for her briefing, and express Denmark’s unwavering support for her mandate. I also thank Director Jocelyn for her briefing on the situation for survivors in Haiti.
Madam President, allow me to make three points.
First,
When this Council unanimously adopted resolution 1888, it made clear that preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence requires sustained leadership, coordination and accountability.
Today, 17 years later, that recognition is no less relevant. In fact, this mandate is more important than ever.
This year’s report paints a stark and devastating picture.
Based on a robust methodology and comprehensive verification, it reminds us that conflict-related sexual violence features in most of the conflicts discussed by this Council - from Sudan to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, from Ukraine to Myanmar, from Libya to Haiti.
These figures are deeply alarming - but represent only the cases that the UN has been able to rigorously verify in a context of shrinking operational space and dwindling resources.
Countless other survivors remain invisible because fear, stigma, insecurity, and lack of access all prevent documentation.
Denmark condemns all acts of conflict-related sexual violence. We call on parties to conflicts to cease all forms of sexual violence and fully comply with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Although non-State armed groups continue to account for the majority of listings in the annex, the gradual increase in national armed and security forces among listed parties is deeply concerning.
This year, notably, the Israeli armed and security forces and the Russian armed and security forces are included.
We call on all listed parties to grant the UN full, safe, and unhindered access and to investigate allegations, monitor violations, and assist survivors. Where access is denied, impunity rises.
We note positively that several states mentioned in the report, including Ukraine, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have taken resolute steps to address conflict-related sexual violence among their armed forces and police, including through engagement with the Office of the Special Representative.
The consistent decrease in cases of the Congolese National Police demonstrates how sustained cooperation with the Office can support accountability, strengthen institutional responses, and contribute to a measurable reduction in conflict-related sexual violence.
This is exactly the type of prevention and concrete action that is needed.
The Security Council must also continue to make full use of targeted sanctions against perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence.
As we have heard, over 65 per cent of the listed parties are long standing perpetrators. We must ensure that listings leads to accountability, accountability leads to action, and action leads to an end to these crimes.
Third, Madam President,
Survivors need help. They must be granted access to comprehensive services, including sexual and reproductive health services, mental health and psychosocial support.
This is a life-saving and essential component of the international response to conflict-related sexual violence. These services must be protected and adequately funded.
And those who protect survivors and document these crimes must never become targets. We condemn the growing number of attacks against humanitarian workers, UN personnel, human rights defenders and organisations supporting survivors.
We commend the collective efforts of the Office of the Special Representative, the entire UN Action Network against Sexual Violence, the UN Teams of Experts, women’s protection advisors, and human rights monitors.
Their work is indispensable to prevention, protection, and justice.
Madam President, in closing,
The question is not whether we know enough about the practice of CRSV. This report leaves no room for doubt.
The question is whether we will match the resilience of survivors with the courage to act. To ensure stronger accountability, greater protection, better support to the survivors and – ultimately - fewer violations.
Thank you.
