EU Statement – UN Security Council: Conflict-related Sexual Violence

Mr/Madam President, 

We thank the Special Representative Ms Pramila Patten and Ms Ikhlass Ahmed for their briefings and for shedding light on horrific and heart-breaking crimes that should have no place in our world today. 

Twenty-five years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) here in this Council, systematic sexual violence continues to be used, including as a weapon of war, primarily targeting women and girls – but men and boys are not spared these crimes. 

We share the alarm of the Secretary-General about the widespread conflict-related sexual violence recorded last year. This must end. 

Mr/Madam President, 

The EU is fully committed 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.

Accountability is of fundamental importance to prevent, deter and eliminate conflict-related sexual violence. The annual report of the Secretary-General, and its annexed list of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict – as mandated by UN Security Council resolution – is of critical importance in this regard. 

This year’s report outlines the very concerning trends and concerns in a vast number of conflicts and other situations. We remain deeply concerned with all these situations and condemn all forms of conflict-related sexual violence wherever they occur – be it in Afghanistan, DRC, Haiti, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria or anywhere else – by state actors or non-state actors, like Hamas. 

While the report does not formally list the Russian Federation among the parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violation in its annex, it presents clear and credible documentation of over 200 cases of conflict-related sexual violations perpetrated by Russian armed forces against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians. 

Additionally, the Secretary-General expresses grave concern regarding credible information of violations by the Israeli armed and security forces against Palestinians detained or in prison. 

We note the unusual measure by the Secretary-General to put the Russian Federation and Israel “on notice” for potential listing in the next report – citing challenges “to make definitive determinations regarding patterns, trends and systematicity of sexual violence”, “due to the consistent denial of access for UN monitors”.

We call on all parties assessed in this report, including the Russian Federation – a Permanent Member of this Council – to heed the call of the Secretary-General to cease acts of sexual violence, allow access for monitoring purposes and cooperate with relevant entities.

Mr/Madam President,

In relation to the focus of today’s discussions on strategies to ensuring life-saving services and protection to survivors of conflict, we believe this must be addressed in a comprehensive manner, particularly through joint action in three ways:

First, we need to confront the root causes of conflict related sexual violence – dismantling systems, structures, and political narratives that perpetuate gender inequality. The ongoing UN reform must empower the organisation to tackle CRSV more effectively, ensuring full coordination across all pillars, including transitional justice and rule of law. Interagency mechanisms, such as the Team of Experts should be used more often and more strategically with successes replicated. 

Second, we need to better ensure survivor-centred justice to deter furtherance of conflict. This requires investigation, prosecution, including at national levels, and transitional justice that upholds the rights of survivors.

Third, we all share responsibility to back this agenda with resources. Commitments made today must be matched by funding for both accountability and survivor-centred services, from emergency medical care including sexual and reproductive health care services, to psychosocial support and long-term reintegration.

For our part, the EU supports life-saving services and protection to survivors in many contexts. For example: in Haiti, a 6 million EUR partnership with the Alliance for International Medical Action, delivers healthcare in high-risk areas, including free services for survivors. In Sudan, we support UNFPA and UNHCR with total of 9 million EUR for life-saving GBV services including to survivors of CRSV. In Ukraine, our 15 million EUR partnership with UNFPA is reforming SGBV and SRH-care services, training over 3,500 healthcare workers, and integrating care into national systems.

Mr/Madam President,

We welcome many innovative ideas and strategies to ensure services and protection to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence discussed here today, but even our best intentions and efforts in this regard can never heal or make up for the extreme pain and suffering inflicted through these crimes in the first place. 

So let us all remember and recommit to our obligation to eliminate conflict-related sexual violence in the first place. 

Thank you.