EU Statement – UN Security Council: Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict

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Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Andorra, and San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

Let me at the outset reaffirm our longstanding commitment to eliminating sexual and gender-based violence in all of its forms, in times of peace and conflict. Conflict-related sexual violence and rape are blatant violations of human rights and war crimes. They must be countered.

We sadly must agree with the Secretary-General that the situation is alarming. We are facing the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945, repeated violations of the UN Charter and international law, the return of invasions, military coups, rising impunity, human rights violations and abuses and assaults on the rule of law.

We are horrified by the testimonies and reports of violence, including sexual violence and rape, perpetrated by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, and by the repeated Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructures, including hospitals, depriving survivors from accessing essential health services.

These crimes will not be left unanswered. We are taking action to support independent investigations to ensure justice and accountability. We are also working to provide urgent support to survivors of sexual violence. We demand that Russia immediately stop its military aggression, enabled by Belarus, immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders, as demanded by UNGA resolution a/ES-11/1 of 2 March.

The reports coming from Bucha and other cities recall the worst atrocities committed by war criminals such as Daesh in Iraq and Syria, as well as by state and non-state actors in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mali, Sudan, DRC, Central African Republic and elsewhere.

There is a solid international framework in place to address these abhorrent crimes. We do not need more debates, documents or initiatives. We need action.

Let me outline four priorities:

• First, it is the responsibility of all States to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence, protect and support survivors, and bring perpetrators to justice. All State and non-State parties to conflict must adopt specific commitments to prevent and address such violence and monitor their compliance.

• Second, civil society plays a key role, often as first responders. We deplore that women peacebuilders, mediators, journalists, politicians, humanitarian workers, civil society leaders and human rights defenders face increasing and specific challenges, including threats to their safety and freedom, which often hamper their ability to act. It is our collective responsibility to put an end to such threats, hold perpetrators accountable, and defend civic space. The EU is currently conducting programmes to support women activists at risk and survivors of sexual violence in Afghanistan, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Yemen and Venezuela.

• Third, prosecution and accountability are key to ensuring long lasting peace. We must do more to fight impunity. We support initiatives to strengthen legal procedures at national, regional and international levels, notably through the Rome Statute and the ICC. We reiterate our support for the Security Council to incorporate and apply sexual and gender-based violence as a designation criterion in UN sanction regimes in a systematic manner. The EU’s autonomous measures contain listing criteria related to human rights violations and abuses, which makes it possible to list perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence.

• Fourth, security and protection cost money. Prevention, mitigation and response to sexual and gender based violence programmes must be considered as life-saving by humanitarian actors and appeals, and as part of standard Women, Peace and Security funding. A survivor-centred approach must guide our actions, with a focus on ensuring accessible and quality multi-sectoral assistance, including access to psychological and legal services, as well as to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, in line with the Programme of Action of the ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action, and the outcomes of their reviews. The EU as part of the Call to Action is advocating and promoting the combat against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence as a priority in humanitarian contexts.

Mr President,

The EU and its Member States fully support an ambitious ‘New Agenda for Peace’ that should reinforce the commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda by ensuring the full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of all women in all stages of peace processes and peacebuilding, and ensuring accountability for its implementation.

We will actively continue to use all our tools for holding perpetrators accountable and for ensuring that women, have the opportunity and , are enabled to contribute to the efforts and dialogues promoted by the EU and the wider international community.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.