19.08.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UN open debate on CRSV

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Denmark thanks Panama for hosting this year’s Open Debate on conflict-related sexual violence.

Let me also express our appreciation for the briefing and work of SRSG Patten and her Office, and reiterate our steadfast support for this mandate.

We thank Ikhlass Ahmed, Founder and Coordinator of the Darfur Advocacy Group for sharing her experiences as a human rights defender.

Mr. President,

Let me speak plainly. Sexual violence is routinely used as a tactic of war. Lives are torn apart, communities shattered by violence, and silence enforced at gunpoint.

Conflict-related sexual violence is not collateral damage. It is a strategy. It is systematic. And it is used more and more. We must do everything to reverse this trend, prevent further violations, restore dignity, deliver justice, and demand accountability.

Denmark is appalled by the continued increase in CRSV cases recorded and verified in 2024. We take note of the increasingly worrying developments in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Sudan, and South Sudan, among others.

We also take note that Hamas is now listed in the annex of the Secretary-General’s report for the sexual violence and other violations.

There must be accountability for all these violations.

Mr. President, allow me to focus today on three points,

First, as we meet today, systematic impunity persists while conflict-related sexual violence continues to claim lives and scar survivors.

To deter future violations, affirm survivors’ rights, and reinforce justice as a cornerstone of lasting peace, we must be steadfast in our commitment. This includes holding perpetrators accountable under international law.

To this end, efforts must be strengthened for transitional justice mechanisms to prioritize the needs, rights, and aspirations of survivors.

Denmark also firmly supports the use of targeted sanctions against those who perpetrate and direct sexual violence in conflict, in line with Resolution 2467.  And we encourage increased information sharing about sexual violence between the Office of the SRSG and relevant sanctions committees and expert panels.

We also call on all Member States to engage constructively with the Office of the SRSG in the fight against CRSV. The Russian Federation and Israel who are both mentioned in the appendix should honour their commitments and grant the UN unimpeded access for monitoring purposes and cooperate with the SRSG and relevant UN entities.

We are deeply alarmed about the independent reports of conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated in the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. We call on Russia to withdraw its forces, respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. 

Mr. President, my second point,

We remain deeply concerned about the lack of resources and limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, especially in humanitarian emergencies and conflict-affected contexts, as we have heard from our briefers today.

For a survivor, this often means suffering physical and psychological trauma in isolation, without community or professional support. Or carrying fear of sexual transmitted infections without having access to the necessary medical care.

All actors must respect and uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including by ensuring the protection of all humanitarian and medical personnel – and ensuring uninterrupted, safe, and non-discriminatory access to essential services for all affected populations.

Mr. President, my third point,

In the face of what may seem like insurmountable challenges, women persevere. Across the world.

In Sudan, local women’s networks play a pivotal leadership role in crisis response – organizing shelters and advocacy networks for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

In Myanmar, women remain at the frontline leading the delivery of critical services, documentation efforts, legal advocacy, and humanitarian coordination.

And in Haiti, local women-led organizations facilitate safe spaces, counselling, dignity kits, mobile clinics, and referral hotlines serving survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in displacement sites.

It is our collective responsibility to underpin these efforts with resources, support and protection.

We must stand firm against obstructions and reprisals against civil society organizations, service providers and frontline workers who lead the response to sexual and gender-based violence. Including in situations with an absence of formal structures.

Mr. President, in conclusion,

Ending conflict-related sexual violence is not only a moral imperative. It is a foundational step towards fostering reconciliation and sustaining peace.

I thank you.