International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2026

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, welcome, and thank you for joining us for this 12th commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. As UN correspondents, reporting on conflict-related sexual violence against children is one of the hardest things we will do. But we owe it to the survivors and their caregivers to try and help tell their stories. We will open this event with remarks from one of our co-hosts, the Permanent Mission of Argentina, who was a sponsor of General Assembly Resolution 69/293, which established today as the International Day for the Elimination of sexual violence in conflict. I'm happy to introduce His Excellency Ambassador Francisco Fabián Tropepi, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, who assumed this position in December 2024. Excellency, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Thank you. Hello? It's okay? Thank you. Good morning. Good morning to all of you. Dear colleagues, it's my honor to join you today for the 12th commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Thank you for being here today. I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Vanessa Frazier. Also Chloe Marnan, Chief of Staff of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Thank you for co-hosting this event with the Permanent Mission of Argentina. Thank you, Yvonne and Murray, and thank you, James Grey, for sharing the floor with us. We are also joined today by Marie Beloff, a prominent Argentine member of the Committee of the Rights of the Child.

Morning.

Since 2015, this International Day has been observed annually to mark the unanimous adoption of the first Security Council resolution that in 2008 recognized conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic of war and a threat to international peace and security. The purpose of this commemoration is to stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual violence in conflict and with those who support them to inspire hope as we raise our voices to end rape in war. This year, we are focusing on conflict-related sexual violence against children, highlighting The Importance of Safeguarding Futures and Empowering Caregivers. Conflict-related sexual violence against children constitutes one of the gravest violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, with profound and long-lasting consequences. Children subject to these crimes suffer severe psychological and physical harm, including injuries, trauma, unwanted pregnancies, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, and even death. Over time, they face stigma, disrupted education, loss of family support, and greater risk of repeated recruitment, harm, or exploitation. These harms— extend beyond the individual child to their caregivers, who must shoulder increased responsibilities in context where healthcare system are broken and civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. In this context, restoring system of care become essential, not only for, for child survivors, but also for the empowerment and well-being of caregivers. Thank you. Who play a central role in recovery, reintegration, and long-term healing. Unfortunately, conflict-related sexual violence against children remains significantly underreported and underaddressed. Structural barriers, including security, lack of access to services, fear of retaliation, stigma, and distrust in institutions prevent children and their caregivers from seeking help. When sexual violence against children is not confronted directly and early, it undermines prospects for sustainable peace, reconciliation, the restoration of social cohesion, and recovery.

Thank you.

In this sense, empowering caregivers and affected communities through meaningful participation, equitable resourcing, and the rebuilding of formal systems of care is indispensable to breaking these cycles and ensuring that responses remain survivor-centered. The United Nations as an institution and each of us at its member states Must work tirelessly to advocate for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict against children as a priority. Children are our future, and it is our shared responsibility to protect them from such atrocities and ensure they enjoy the childhood they deserve. The scourge of sexual violence in conflict must be addressed with the seriousness It demands, and we must work together to put an end to it. We trust that the United Nations will continue to uphold this approach to guarantee the effective and impartial fulfillment of its mandates. This is crucial and— this is a crucial and a sensitive topic, and it's essential to avoid the politicization of the discussion, which could divert attention toward interests that distract us from the core issue. I thank you all— all of you joining us today. I'm confident that this morning will offer a moment of deep reflection, inspiring us to contribute each in our own way to raising awareness of the urgent need to end conflict-related sexual violence in general and given its devastating consequences against children in particular. I thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador, for your remarks and for opening this very important event. Unfortunately, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Under-Secretary-General, Ms. Pramila Patten, is not feeling well and will not be able to join us today. I will hand the floor to Cloé Marnay-Bazanger, who is Chief of Staff of the Office of the Special Representative for the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and team leader of the United Nations Team of Experts in the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Yvonne, and the SRSG expresses her deep regret for not being able to be here today. And wishes that this moment can still be very useful to all of us. So I will be delivering her remarks in her stead. Your Excellency, Francisco Fabian Tristócepi— you have a name that's almost as difficult as mine to pronounce— Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations. Buenos días. Under-Secretary Fraser, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues and friends, thank you, and thanks also to our guests in the field for joining us today for the 12th official observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. As we gather today, I'm reminded of the profound responsibility we carry to protect the most vulnerable, the children caught in the harrowing realities of conflict who are often the most invisible casualties. Sexual violence against children in conflict is not merely a statistics. It's a tragic reality with profound consequences and a grave violation of human rights that leaves an indelible scars on the collective conscience. As I speak to you, I am reminded of the countless children survivors I have encountered over the past years, from the 8-month-old baby girl in South Sudan to the young girl whom I saw in a hospital run by Heal Africa in Goma shortly after she had gone under surgery for brutal sexual violence. At the time, her identity— [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] was still unknown to the medical personnel as she was dropped by, by some passerby. I also vividly remember the 6-year-old Sudanese girl who had been raped in a refugee camp in Awol, South Sudan, or the frail 13-year-old South Sudanese girl who was gang raped by the Rapid Support Forces element in her home in Khartoum in front of her parents. Thank you. When I met her, she had delivered a baby by C-section just a month earlier. Conflicts are escalating around the world in numbers as well as in severity and duration, with sexual violence used as tactic of war, terror, torture, and political repression by state and non-state actors. Tragically, There are harrowing accounts of children being also targeted. Recent annual Secretary General's report on conflict-related sexual violence, including the latest one for year 2025, paint a grim picture of children subjected to rape, gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and forced pregnancy, with cases documented against children as young as 1 year old. In 2024, sexual violence against children had even increased by a shocking 35%, with incidents of gang rape rising dramatically. These violations are neither isolated nor confined to a handful of contexts. They're global in scale, and demand a response centered on the rights, needs, and dignity of survivors and community affected. Some of the disturbing trends that we've noticed include girls being subjected to gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery during incursion of armed groups in villages, girls being subjected to sexual violence by extremist armed groups while being— undertaking essential livelihood activities. Others being collective raped in public in total impunity. Girls being brutally raped due perceived association with rival groups and/or on the basis of their ethnicity. Migrant girls being subjected to human trafficking in border areas by illegal armed groups. Forced marriage of girls is rife in some context. It has even been legalized. Boys are also being subjected to sexual violence in the context of detention setting, including as a form of torture. The impact of these crimes is devastating. Children affected by sexual violence endure lifelong— you mentioned that— physical and psychological harm, often compounded by stigma, disrupted education, and increased risk of exploitation of further violation. And the impact extends beyond individuals, fracturing families and destabilizing entire communities. While the role of caregiver is critical in this challenging context as the first line of support for these children, they unfortunately often operate in overwhelming adversity and in insecure environment. At the same time, the harsh reality is that at a time when violations are rising, humanitarian needs are mounting, funding for service provision is falling dramatically. This is leading to major gaps in essential services and support mechanisms. Every dollar diverted is a child left vulnerable. Every funding cut is a lifeline severed. In the face of these challenges, through the interagency network, UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, which is chaired by the SRSG, the UN system comes together across diverse contexts to try to deliver an integrated continuum of care that strengthens services and restores systems supporting survivors, including children and their caregivers. The team of experts on rule of law and sexual violence in conflict is working with national authorities in several settings to bolster justice and accountability by strengthening investigative capacity, supporting legislative reform, and enhancing child-sensitive judicial processes. Excellencies— The protection of children in conflict is a shared responsibility that transcends borders. Today, we stand before you not only to bear witness, but to urge you to take action, to increase funding for programs that prioritize protection and rehabilitation of children survivors of sexual violence, as well as justice and accountability.

Thank you.

Let us be the voice for those who cannot speak. Let us take decisive actions that reflect our commitments to end sexual violence against children in war zones. We need stronger laws and policy frameworks for the prevention and response to sexual violence against children. We need to expand comprehensive services, including education, and ensure safe and confidential reporting mechanism. Let us stand united in our resolve to protect and empower the most vulnerable amongst us. Together we can build a world where every child is protected, valued, and empowered. With sustained political resolve and financial resources equal to the scale of the challenge, progress is possible. I urge you to renew your commitment both in action and funding. The time for words is The time for action is now. Change is not achieved in resolutions alone. It is materialized through accessible and quality child-friendly support in conflict areas. It is achieved when no military or political leader is above the law and no child is beneath the scope of its protection. It is achieved when survivors can reclaim their future and replace horror with healing and hope. Together, we can be a beacon of hope for these children, transforming their trauma into resilience and their despair into a promise for a better tomorrow. I thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Marnay-Bazinger, for your remarks. I will now hand the floor over to the other co-host of this event, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and Under-Secretary-General, Miss Vanessa Fraser.

Thank you very much. And the way that we avoid mispronunciations is we use first names. Thank you, Francisco and Chloe. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, children affected by armed conflict have endured unconscionable levels of grave violations in 2025. As the report of the Secretary-General on children in armed conflict published a couple of days ago shows. This includes the 6 grave violations against children, of which rape and other forms of sexual violence is one. From Myanmar to South Sudan, from Gaza to the Syrian Arab Republic, one constant remains: children continue to be subjected to unacceptable violence. Conflict-related sexual violence against children, such as gang rape, Forced marriage to fighters and forced pregnancy is increasingly being used as a weapons of war— as a weapon of war and poses a grave threat to international peace and security. Survivors are subject to sexual violence as a means of domination, punishment, and terror. As sexual violence is becoming increasingly common, its physical, developmental, and community-wide consequences inflict extraordinary devastation. This violation of children's rights does not occur in isolation. It is intrinsically linked to other grave violations that children in armed conflict are exposed to. For example, girls may be abducted, used by armed forces or groups, and be subjected to sexual violence while associated with these armed elements. Over the years, the international community worked together to transform the conflict-affected sexual violence framework into protective networks. Yet, despite our collective efforts to support children through our common ground of international law, we keep on witnessing an increasing disregard for the rules of war, which wreaks havoc on the lives of children caught in armed conflict. The recent verified numbers of rape and other forms of sexual violence against— children are harrowing. In 2025, 1,779 children were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence across situations in the Children Unarmed Conflict agenda. 98.5% of the victims and survivors were girls. Across the 22 country situations and 1 regional situation covered by the CAC mandate, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, and Haiti with the context with the most verified incidents. Behind this number are individual experiences, and each one of them affects a child and their community. For many, these children are being treated as commodities, sold to generate revenue through trafficking for sexual purposes, targeted to inflict harm and assert control over their own communities. Thank you. Girls are disproportionately affected, and while incidents of sexual rape remain underreported, those against boys are often even more invisible. Some children are directly impacted, while some are born as a result of these atrocities that no human being should ever experience. The harm does not end there. Children also face compounding intersectional vulnerability. Intersect— intersectional vulnerability.— from displacement to marginalization due to their legal status, ethnic or religion— religious background, gender, age, or due to disabilities, all of which heighten their exposure to sexual violence. When the path to school is paved with risks of abduction, when establishments are turned into exploitation sites, when healthcare systems providing life-saving care are reduced to rubble, the risk of sexual abuse rises sharply. In armed conflicts, where the protective systems collapse, children are left without support. After enduring pervasive violations, children and their caregivers, mostly women, of whom many are survivors of sexual violence themselves, are left with weakened trust in institutions and eroding community ties. Families whose access to services has been compromised are left to navigate care for their children on their own. In too many cases where rape and other forms of sexual violence are stigmatized and associated with shame, the systematic harm weakens not only families but entire societies. This is exacerbated by the real risk of retaliation for survivors who speak out. When survivors deserve strong community bonds. The shame of sexual violence is not theirs to carry, it should be placed solely on the perpetrators. Labeled as dishonored, children are forced to suffer in silence, deprived of protective structures and social cohesion. With no psychosocial support and a lack of accountability mechanisms or humanitarian access— Thank you. These children are re-victimized and increasingly at risk of recruitment and use by armed groups. Despite the risks of being killed, sexual exploitation becomes a solution to the lack of vital resources. Children are forced to adopt survival strategies developed not to belong and thrive, but to cope and survive. It takes 18 years to build the foundations of a child's future. Future, 18 years during which every child deserves to grow up in an environment that supports their well-being, their cognitive and social development. However, it takes only a few seconds to change the course of an entire lifetime. One violation, one rape, one boy forced into prostitution, one girl forced into marriage. When I meet child survivors, I am always profoundly struck by their resilience. However, their strength must never be misused to excuse a lack of political will and actions. It is not for children to adapt to violence. It is on us to end it. For these reasons, I invite all parties to join efforts in ending and preventing sexual violence in conflict and supporting survivors for long-term peacebuilding.

Thank you.—

each crime must be documented and perpetrators must be held accountable. As part of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, the Security Council requires any party listed in the annexes to the Secretary-General's report to sign action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children. With those tools— with those tools, sexual violence against children can be addressed through tangible, time-bound actions, including accountability. Furthermore, member states must conduct and demand credible investigations to combat impunity. In these times, when the fundamental principles of international law are being violated, we must reaffirm our commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and engagement to the CAC mandate's Prove It Matters campaign. Which reminds us that any individual under the age of 18 is a child whose rights must be unconditionally respected. Still, in accordance with international law, each survivor must be considered a victim and be supported. Through a systematic approach, medical, psychosocial, and legal support services— Legal support services must be reinforced. And access to them must be safe. Survivors of violence, as well as their caregivers and children, must be able to access community-based care without fear of reprisals. Each case must be recognized, and the reintegration of children must be a priority. Survivors and children born of sexual violence, as well as their communities, must be fully included in the development of peace peace measures and reconciliation processes. No change can be sustained over time if it does not incorporate the needs and lived experiences of those who were directly affected. Sustainable peace requires financial investment. Communities must receive the resources and knowledge to protect children and provide survivor-centered assistance, reinforcing women's —full and meaningful participation in peace and security processes is vital also, not only to ensure that responses to sexual violence are prioritized, but also to ensure that peace is just. Peacebuilding cannot happen without a systematic, inclusive, and holistic approach. While receiving gender-, age-, trauma-informed, and disability-sensitive programs, Caregivers, community teachers, local authorities, and security sector must work together to ensure appropriate child protection responses. Beyond short-term response measures, a long-term approach to peacebuilding must be adopted. It is through education that change becomes possible, that stigma— stigma can be challenged and abuse can be prevented. I would like to share the message of a girl who grew up in Colombia. As part of our Prove It Matters campaign, we received this message, which states: I still have hope for a peaceful world. Never again a girl being a wife of a guerrilla fighter. Never again being part of an armed group. Let's save children and their families too. Our inaction carries a cost., and that cost is a generation of children at risk of becoming collateral damage in the world's escalating conflicts. Let us unite our efforts to finally put an end to sexual violence against children in conflict. Thank you.

Thank you, Special Representative Fraser, for your remarks. I am now pleased to present a video message of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, Dr. Najat Mijid, who unfortunately is not able to join us in person, but please turn to the screens where we will watch the video message.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, as we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, I welcome this timely discussion. The urgent need to protect children from conflict-related sexual violence is drastically increasing. Even the existing data doesn't represent the true scale, as most of these crimes remain underreported and underprosecuted. In addition, in the context of conflict, there are several intersections between sexual violence and other forms of violence and exploitation. Sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war. In recent conflicts, thousands of women and children have been abducted, sold, and trafficked both within and outside the country, while boys have been recruited, trafficked, and exploited in armed conflict or in child labor.

Thank you.

Due to economic hardship, the collapse of services, and huge displacements, families in conflict and post-conflict situations sometimes resort to high-risk coping mechanisms, such as coercing children into early marriage or sending them into child labor. The consequences of such violent The consequences of violence are severe and long-lasting. Beyond immediate physical and psychological harm, children face disrupted education, stigma, and long-term exclusion, leaving them at heightened risk of re-victimization and exploitation. Caregivers, most often women, absorb the invisible burden of the rips. as health, protection and social systems break down, they become the primary providers of care, protection and emotional support, often without resources or assistance. This leads to economic strain, psychological stress and social isolation, weakening community resilience.

Thank you.

The responses, which already didn't match this challenge before, are being alarmingly reduced as major donors are pulling back. All this results in a pre-, per-, and post-conflict cycle of violence. Breaking this cycle requires sustainable integrated services that are easily accessible to all children and their caregivers, including health, mental health and psychosocial support, education, social and child protection, legal assistance and justice, as well as economic empowerment. Breaking this cycle also requires ending impunity and holding perpetrators accountable for these crimes. Seeing justice done And obtaining effective remedies can be a crucial aspect of healing for victims and survivors. And all this action must be guided by the voices and lived experiences of children, caregivers, and survivors. This is the only way to truly empower children, families, and communities, and to safeguard their future. Let me conclude. By quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear, and that they can grow up in peace. Thank you.

Thank you to Dr. Najat Maelah Majid for your advocacy call to protect children from conflict-related sexual violence, to highlight caregiver burdens, and the need to advance survivor-centered solutions. We're going to stay with the screen for a moment, and I'd like to turn the floor over to Insaf Mohammed, a social worker for RISE organization, who's joining us live from Somalia. Rise is a women-led, community-based NGO founded in 2014 to address inequalities and humanitarian gaps affecting vulnerable groups in Somalia, particularly women, children, and displaced communities. It has worked closely with the Human Rights Protection Group, HRPG, at the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNTMIS, on human rights protection and responses to sexual violence, including case management and referrals for survivors. In 2026, RISE and HRPG renewed their partnership to strengthen protection and service support efforts, especially in light of the anticipated UNMISS exit. Insaf, can you please tell us about the situation for child survivors of conflicts-related sexual violence in Somalia, and in particular, how do you ensure a survivor-centered approach for the children is applied and that caregivers are empowered to conduct the work safely?

Thank you. Hello everyone. My name is Yusuf Mohamed, and Baidoa is in Bayrichon, and one of the areas most severely affected by the conflict in all of Somalia. And I work in a city hosting over 400,000 displaced people and families who fled Al-Shabaab group violences and droughts and clan conflicts who arrived with absolutely nothing. And the children I serve are predominantly girls between the age of 8 and 17. And they have survived sexual violence perpetrated by armed actors and community members. And sometimes it's the very people they trusted most. And, but the hardest part is this, and most survivors never reach me at all. Because in Baidawa, silence is survival. And families do not report because fear of stigma and retaliation and the future of their daughters. And I have sat with Malas, who know exactly what happens to their daughters. And begged me not to write it down. I once looked into the eyes of a 10-year-old girl who apologized to me and that exactly what happened to her was her fault. And that is the reality I face every day, every single day. Mm-hmm. And a survivor-centered approach is a core pillar of my professional practice. And let me tell you what it actually looks like at 8:00 AM in a dusty IDP camp in Beitawa. And I want to illustrate this through the case of Hodan. And Hodan is not her real name, it's a nickname. And Hodan is a 13-year-old survivor. I worked with in Tofika. And Hodan arrived into our safe space completely silent. And her mother arrived just as lost, telling me, "I don't know what to say to my daughter anymore." And we worked with both of them. Hodan received medical care, psychosocial counseling at her own pace, and eventually education. And her mother received her own counseling and joined our caregiver support group and was trained in trauma-informed care. And the moment that stayed with me, the moment that stayed with me was with her mother came to me and say, I used to tell Hosan to forget and move forward. Now I understand sitting with her means being stronger for her. And 12 months later, Holland now is in school, and her mother is a community volunteer protecting other children. And one family, one year, that is what survivor center care looks like. And to maintain this, ensure ethical case management, safeguarding, and I make sure intervention do not traumatize survivors. I remember sitting with a girl aged 10 years old who had already been asked to repeat her story 5 times by others. And before reaching me, by that time, she can to my office. She was retraumatized. That must never happen under my watch or the one of people like Mentor. The second one is Pace, and I follow the child's pace. And I also know now I cannot protect children without protecting the people who cares them. And Bedawa and caregivers I support are themselves displaced and ex-hosted. They are trying to support and to traumatize a child while barely surviving themselves. So how do we empower them as rights and faster we see them as human being? And when a caregiver comes to me, the first question I ask is not only how is the child, and I ask, how are you? And I had caregivers break down crying because nobody had asked them that question in months. And second, we provide training for caregivers. And at RAISE, we teach caregivers how to organize the stigma, the signs of stigma, what to do and what not to do. And third, then we build a community. And fourth, we invest in our own self. And RAISE provides mandatory psychosocial support and dedicated security protocols and regular supervision. And for me, empowerment is not a one-time event. It is a lifelong journey, and that requires sustained investment and support. And to conclude, this is the reality of Somalia, and this is what we work in Somalia. And we are not just managing projects, we are navigating land is key of survival. Thank you all.

Thank you so much, Insa, for highlighting the importance there of pushing the survivor at the center of any action with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. And in cases involving children, which means making their parents and tutors also vectors of key principles, values, and commitments. And your experience that you just described there, working in survivor support with IDP communities, clearly highlights how displacement, conflict, and indeed the effects of climate change are red flags for women and girls in Somalia and significantly exacerbates the protection environment. So your testimony also reminds us that all survivors, including children, can seek justice. Yes. Redress, and fight stigma. But this, of course, requires a solid community approach with caretakers, caregivers, and social workers fully involved in the response. So now we will stay again with the video screen, and we'll turn to Olmecare Mohammed from the International Organization for Migration, who's joining us from Mogadishu, to share testimony from a survivor of conflict-related sexual violence in Somalia.

Thank you so much. In Somalia, conflict-related sexual violence does not end with the survivor. It casts a shadow over the lives of families and children and places immense pressure on caregivers to rebuild in the face of trauma and poverty. Today, As we focus on safeguarding the future of children and empowering caregivers, we will hear the experience of Fatima, a mother whose journey shows what is possible when support is centered on the needs and wishes of the survivor. Fatima, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, once struggled to provide for her large family while carrying the deep trauma of having suffered— conflict-related sexual violence as a young woman. She came from a region of— affected by conflict in which many areas are controlled by al-Shabaab. In the absence of income and support, both Fatima and her children were left vulnerable to poverty and further violence. Through the UN Action Against Violence in Conflict Network, The International Organization for Migration and UNMISSOM came together to implement a joint project entitled Leveraging the Strengths of Women in Somalia to Mitigate Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Prevent Violence Extremism. This project was a strategic investment in prevention, resilience, and the future of families like Fatima. For 6 months, Fatima engaged in intensive holistic support. She learned literacy, numeracy, and skills. She also received psychosocial support that began to restore her sense of self. Through the project, she acquired practical skills in making incense, which is integral to daily life and rituals in Somalia, laying the foundation for economic independence. But the intervention did not stop at training. For another 6 months, she attended sessions on business guidance and received mentoring support, all to set up for success. This sustained proactive approach is what transforms life, not a moment of aid, but a continuum of support that allows recovery to take place and grow. As Fatima says, after graduating and opening my small kiosk, My living standard improved greatly. I can now provide for my children, support their education, and live a stable life. Now my children can go to school regularly, and I can provide them with food and clothes. They are happier and more secure. As a mother, what makes me most proud is seeing my children safe, learning, and having a better future. Thank you. This tells us her recovery is also a restoration of dignity and hope. Fatima said, "The support I received helped me become more financially independent and confident. It restored my dignity and gave me hope for the future." And in a powerful sign of long-term economic empowerment and stability, Fatima said, [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] I lived in a rental house. Today, I am proud to say that my family owns a home. So this tells us, and Fatma's story and the story of so many others shows that when caregivers are supported, children are protected, and the cycles of vulnerability can be broken. This demonstrates the tangible impact of UN actions, country-level support in delivering not only relief, but also building resilience. And Fatma's message is clear. Although this was a golden opportunity for me, many women are still facing poverty and hardship. I hope my story can open doors for more women to receive the support they need. As so many clinics around the world are being forced to close their door, Fatma's story shows the transpo— transformative potential of sustaining investment in the agency and leadership of survivors. Her journey demonstrates that when caregivers are equipped to recover and lead, they become more powerful. Drivers of stability and opportunity for the next generation. Today, the question for all of us here is whether we will act so that more caregivers and their children can not only survive, but thrive. Thank you so much. My name is Omulkayr, and I am from IOM Somalia.

Thank you so much, Omulkayr, for your words and for sharing this powerful testimony with us. And I think Fatma's journey does demonstrate that when caregivers are equipped to recover, and lead, they become the powerful drivers of peace for the next generation. So now we'll watch a video statement from Her Royal Highness Maria Theresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and global champion in the fight against sexual violence in conflict.

On this International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, We must realize that these crimes are not accidental. We know that conflict-related sexual violence is used deliberately as a tactic of war, terror, repression, and control. It is the cheapest weapon of war, used to destroy families, fracture communities, and weaken entire societies. The devastating reality that we must confront today is that more and more children are also victims of conflict-related sexual violence in far too many parts of the world. The impact on their lives is profound and long-lasting. But behind every child survivor, there are also caregivers, most often mothers, sisters, grandmothers, or other women of the community, who carry an immense burden in extremely fragile environments and who very often have themselves been abused. Through the initiative Stand, Speak, Rise Up that I launched in Luxembourg in 2019, together with survivors, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, activists, leaders, and partners from around the world, I have witnessed how essential recognition and long-term support are in trying to rebuild lives and communities. Stand Speak Rise Up supports initiatives helping women and children affected by the conflict-related sexual violence access healthcare, education, psychological care, and gives them opportunities to hopefully regain stability and independence. Survivors repeatedly remind us that recovery is not a journey anyone can make alone. Healing requires safety, dignity, opportunities, and strong human connections. Caregivers should never have to carry this burden alone. Supporting them is essential to the well-being and protection of children. When caregivers are supported, children have a greater chance to heal, families find renewed strength, and communities can begin to rebuild with dignity and hope. But support alone is not enough. Survivors and their families need not only recognition and medical and psychological care, but also justice for the harm they have endured, as well as guarantees that such violence will never happen again. Accountability is essential to restoring dignity, rebuilding trust, and preventing these crimes from being repeated time and again. We must break the silence. We must end impunity. And most of all, we must send a clear message: Shame does not belong to survivors. It belongs to the perpetrators alone. Today, I call on governments, international organizations, humanitarian actors, and civil society to strengthen systems of justice, care, and protection for child survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and for those who support them every day. Because every child deserves safety, every caregiver deserves support and dignity, and every one of them deserves to be recognized for the heroes that they are. Thank you.

And we thank Her Royal Highness for highlighting that behind every child survivor, there are also those caregivers, most often women, who carry that immense burden, especially in fragile environments, and who very often, sadly, have been abused themselves. We are going to come back into the room now, and I'm very pleased to introduce Mr. James Grey, Senior Adviser Child Protection in Humanitarian Action at UNICEF, on behalf of the UN Action Network. Thank you, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Thank you, Ambassador Tripepi and the government of Argentina, as well as SRSG's Patton and Fraser, for convening this important conversation today. I'm here on behalf of the UNICEF Executive Director, who sends her regrets. Excellencies and colleagues in the room and around the world, thank you for joining us in solidarity today. It's an honor to be here representing UNICEF, both in our capacity as the lead UN agency on child rights and as one of the founding members of UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a coalition of UN agencies united in our commitment to addressing conflict-related sexual violence. UN Action harnesses the collective power of the entire UN system system by leveraging the many entry points available within our respective mandates and modalities. Across diverse contexts, the network aims to deliver holistic responses spanning protection, prevention, healthcare, economic empowerment, and enhanced monitoring and reporting. As the preceding speakers have powerfully highlighted, children living in conflict zones bear particularly brutal impacts of conflict, including conflict-related sexual violence. Sexual violence remains one of the most devastating and one of the least visible violations due to the high risks of reporting, coupled with the fact that there is simply not enough help available for survivors. As we have heard today, the new— the 2025 Secretary-General's Report on Children in Armed Conflict shows girls continue to be disproportionately affected by sexual violence. And we heard the figure just before. They account for over 98% of the survivors and were subject— subjected to a range of atrocities that fall under this violation, including rape and gang rape, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. Available data sets on sexual violence prevalence more generally show that in conflict zones, the rates of sexual violence against children are nearly double the global averages. We also know that sexual violence in conflict doesn't occur in isolation. It acts as the centerpiece of a crushing combination of violent acts that can include abduction, recruitment, forced marriage, physical abuse, and others. The harm inflicted on children who experience sexual violence is is both acute and long-lasting, from physical and mental health consequences to disrupted schooling to malnutrition. For some of these children, at the very moment they need love and care and support the most, they instead face stigma and rejection within their communities. Our discussion today also focuses on caregivers and the critical role they play in ensuring children's safety and overall wellbeing. In 2022, members of the UN Action Network contributed to the special report of the Secretary General that put the spotlight directly on a specific group of caregivers. Those were survivors who became pregnant as a result of conflict-related sexual violence. This was a powerful example of collective efforts to make sure these survivors and their children are not overlooked, forgotten. Building upon this advocacy, more work is needed to support these families in their effective and survivor-centred way. As has also been emphasised today, the funding cuts of the past year have drastically reduced the ability of the humanitarian system to deliver both child protection and gender-based violence programming. This is a devastating implication for survivors, as well as will caregivers. It also impacts our ability to document abuses and to hold perpetrators accountable. Especially in the current environment, we need dedicated resources to maintain these lifesaving services. We need our allies to remain strong in upholding rights and IHL standards. We need sustained political support for the MRM, the MARA— MRM. And other monitoring mechanisms. UNICEF would like to reiterate our appreciation for all who are part of this collective fight against conflict-related sexual violence. Today and always, we stand with survivors of all ages. We stand with caregivers. We stand with UN Action, and we stand with all of you. Thank you.

Thank you so much, James, for highlighting the importance there of the coordination inside the UN system to address conflict-related sexual violence and to ensure that the rights and needs of children are reflected in the advocacy and the policy and the programming here. So, again, staying in the room, I'm very pleased to introduce Ms. Kawa Asaka, Executive Director of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security. Just briefly, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is an independent advocacy coalition of 18 civil society organizations that advocate for women's rights. The floor is yours.

Opportunity to address you all today on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, and thank you, Excellencies, for this opportunity to bring a gender perspective to today's discussion. This year's annual report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence tells us that CRSV more than doubled since the previous year. It tells us that over 90% of UN-verified cases affect women and girls. It tells us that of the now 77 armed actors listed in the report, 65% are persistent perpetrators. And while conflicts escalate, humanitarian needs reach record levels, and impunity for abuses continues unabated, we face existential crises of funding cuts,— that are weakening the institutions and structures designed to prevent and address these very issues. This tells us everything we need to know about what the international community should be doing about conflict-related sexual violence. I have 4 recommendations. One, we must remain laser-focused on promoting gender equality and the rights of women and girls as fundamental pillars of any efforts to prevent and respond to all forms of gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. While today's discussion places a spotlight on conflict-related sexual violence against children, we must remember that the root causes of all forms of gender-based violence are harmful patriarchal norms and entrenched intersecting forms of discrimination, and their consequences disproportionately affect women, girls, and marginalized groups. Whether it is in the context of Afghanistan, DRC, Myanmar, Sudan, or other conflicts, we see women and girls and women human rights defenders in particular being targeted for sexual and gender-based violence for daring to defy patriarchal norms that strip them of their agency, push them out of public life, confine them to the home, and restrict them to roles such as mothers, wives, and caregivers to do labor that is invisible, devalued, and uncompensated. Thank you. As anti-gender and anti-rights actors simultaneously try to eviscerate progressive international standards on women's rights and weaken and defund the institutions intended to promote and protect gender equality, I ask you to keep women's agency, bodily autonomy, and rights front and center. This means, among other things, ensuring that UN peace operations can continue to advocate for, report on, and support women and girls who face all forms of gender-based violence in conflicts and crises, including through the deployment of gender— gender advisors and women protection advisors. This means that agencies like UN Women and UNFPA must be strengthened and resourced, not weakened. And it means that all member states, including Security Council members, must continue to defend and integrate norms on gender equality, women's rights, and women, peace, and security into multilateral decision-making, despite intensifying efforts to eliminate them. Thank you. Two, sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls must be protected. In Gaza, the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories identified a series of acts of reproductive violence, including the targeting of sexual and reproductive health facilities as a deliberate strategy. In addition, the COI found that the destruction of the al-Basma IVF clinic was an act intended to prevent Palestinian women Palestinian births in violation of the Genocide Convention. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, despite the increasing use of sexual and gender-based violence by settlers to intimidate, terrorize, and forcibly displace Palestinians, including women and girls, checkpoint and movement restrictions prevent women from accessing essential sexual and reproductive healthcare. In Afghanistan, escalating Taliban restrictions on women, including on women aid workers, combined with severe funding shortages, bans on contraception, and dismantling of systems to respond to gender-based violence have seriously hindered their access to humanitarian assistance and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services, contributing to one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. These examples highlight a critical point: reproductive autonomy and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare must be protected in all circumstances. Thank you. Healthcare facilities, healthcare workers, and sexual and reproductive health supply chains must never be a target. Reproductive violence, a violation of international law, must be recognized, addressed, and prosecuted. And member states must protect and uphold SRHR and comprehensive, high-quality, and non-discriminatory services, including access to emergency contraception, HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, safe abortion, maternal healthcare, and psychosocial support. Thank you. And fully integrate these rights into crisis prevention, response, and recovery plans. Thirdly, funding for women-led and women's rights organizations is absolutely critical. Women-led and women's rights organizations are frequently the first to respond and the last to leave in a crisis, especially when formal systems have collapsed. But they face existential threats from funding cuts and assaults on civic space, including in Haiti, Myanmar, and Sudan. According to UN Women, 40% of women's rights organizations reported that funding cuts had forced them to scale back their essential life-saving services or shut down entirely. 59% of these organizations also reported that cuts resulted in increased impunity and normalization of violence, emboldening perpetrators. We see this in Eastern DRC, where cases of conflict-related sexual violence surged in the last year while international funding cuts led directly to a shortage of PEP kits for survivors. Donors must prioritize flexible, direct, and sustained funding to organizations promoting gender equality and women's rights so that they can continue their lifesaving work. They are on the front lines, they are at a breaking point, and they need your help. Lastly, accountability for conflict-related sexual violence must be a priority. Myanmar is a case in point. For decades, the military has employed rape, gang rape, and sexual violence as a weapon of war throughout the country with impunity, as an expression of patriarchal control, an instrument of repression to humiliate and extinguish the opposition, and as collective punishment. At present, justice for these crimes is impossible domestically, making international accountability absolutely critical. From Myanmar to Afghanistan, Sudan, and beyond, Member States must ensure justice and accountability for all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and reproductive violence by actively supporting holistic, gender-responsive, and survivor-centered accountability proceedings, such as at the ICC, the ICJ, and through universal jurisdiction. Excellencies, when I briefed the Security Council earlier this week about women's participation in peace processes, I recounted what women's civil society from conflicts and crises women across the globe have been telling the international community for more than two decades. Indeed, nothing I'm telling you today is new. We have been consistent in what we've been calling for: to disarm, respect international law, pursue accountability, and do everything in your power to enable women's participation in all aspects of public and political life as the best strategies to dismantle patriarchy, disarm misogyny, and promote equality. Thank you. What is different about this moment is that inaction is simply no longer an option. The atrocities we are discussing today are happening before your eyes, and you have the political, economic, and diplomatic power to make a difference, to stop perpetrators and to hold them accountable. Please act now. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Ahsoka, for reminding us of that crucial role that those fundamental women's rights play in all of this, particularly responding to conflict-related sexual violence. So, to conclude this segment of the event, we'll now again turn to the screen, and we're going to watch a short video testimony by a grandmother about her granddaughter, who is a survivor of sexual violence in South Sudan. It was collected with informed consent during a mission of the Special Representative for the Secretary-General, Ms. Paton in South Sudan. To protect the anonymity of the speaker, her identity is not being shared here today, and her words have been voiced by a producer. Let's turn to the screen, please.

Let us begin. In the name of God, the most gracious and the most merciful. My husband and I are from Sudan, and now we live in a refugee camp in South Sudan. Our daughter had a child whom she left with us. Our daughter believed that her child would be safer, in better care, and away from violence if she lived with us, her grandparents. This little girl, my granddaughter, is now 7 years old. Until this incident happened, we had been affected by the violence across the country, but it was nothing too serious. Even though we had to leave our home. We sought safety at a camp and have since settled here. A little over a year ago, one day, I left my little granddaughter at home. I had felt safe enough to do so, even though I knew I could not leave her for too long. I only had to run some errands nearby because our house had flooded and we needed some materials. She was left alone for less than 2 hours. When I returned home, I saw that her clothes were taken off and there was blood in her underwear. I sat her down and asked her, "What is this? Did someone come to the house?" I tried to stay calm, but I was terrified. At first she did not want to tell me. She was scared that she would be in trouble and that I would be angry. But then I told her, "Tell me. I will protect you." She told me that a man had come to our home while I was away. He had taken off her clothes and violated her. She did not understand what had happened. She did not have the words to describe what had happened. She showed me through gestures. I asked if she knew the man. She did. It was a young man who lives nearby. After she told me, even though she was upset, she went on to play with her toys. She did not understand what had happened to her and what she had just experienced. I am so sorry. My husband and I went to confront the perpetrator. He was a refugee in our camp. At first, he denied it, but then he admitted it. He did not seem sorry. I learned that we could press charges against him to stop him from doing this again and to protect my granddaughter. We told him that we would be seeking accountability for what he did, but he did not believe us. I used our savings to buy a ticket to the police station. The nearest one where we could make a report is half a day's ride away by several buses. But I went and I reported. I had to return several times as the police kept asking for more information and I needed to follow up with them after not hearing from them. The young man was still around my home, my granddaughter. The police took many weeks but eventually they arrested the young man. But they let him go after a few days. He is not near us anymore, but we are always afraid someone like him will return. We have sent this case to court, but there is still no update. We also brought my granddaughter to the hospital. They examined her and they confirmed that she had been raped and cut. It took 4 specialists to examine her and to provide her with care. They gave her medicine that she had to take for 15 days. We spent 7 days in the hospital because she had stopped talking, but she got better. She improved. Now she seems recovered health-wise. She is speaking and playing like a normal child, but I know that the trauma will stay with her for the rest of her life. I keep trying to go back and forth on the bus to go to court. I have been 5 times now, but we do not have enough money for the trip. I am old and it is challenging for me because I no longer have the strength to sell things or work for money. This is why we remain in the camp.

Thank you so much for that deeply moving testimony, and it's a reminder of that profound harm endured, but also the strength of those who speak out on behalf of the survivors. So we will now be turning the floor over to member states and regional groups to present their statements. I will remind everybody to please remember to keep to the 3-minute time limit. First, I would like to invite His Excellency Ambassador Danny Danon, who's the permanent representative of Israel, to take the floor. Thank you.

Thank you.

This is an important discussion. Conflict-related sexual violence is one of the most serious crimes in the world. It destroys victims, families, and communities. When children are targeted, the crime is even more horrific. That is why this issue must be handled with seriousness, with fairness, with truth. And that is exactly why I cannot sit here today and listen to you all speak on this issue without responding. Just 3 weeks ago, Israel was added to the Secretary-General's blacklist for conflict-related sexual violence. Israel—a democracy governed by the rule of law, a country defending its citizens—placed alongside Hamas, alongside Boko Haram, alongside ISIS alongside the same Hamas that carried out massacres, rape, torture, kidnappings, and the sexual abuse of Israelis? That is not accountability. It is a moral disgrace. This is the perfect final chapter of Mr. Guterres's legacy as outgoing Secretary-General. For years, he has tried to create a false moral equivalence between Israel and the terrorists who seek our destruction. Now, in his final months, he has done it again. He has tried to place the State of Israel in the same moral category as Hamas. Let us call this what it is: a shameful lie, a campaign, and a political theater. Frankly, we look forward to the day this institution is no longer led by a Secretary-General who cannot tell the difference between a democracy and terrorists who rape, murder, and kidnap them. But we all know what really happened here. Last year, Hamas was finally put on the Secretary-General's blacklist. This year, after pressure from the anti-Israel lobby inside the UN, Israel had to be dragged onto it too. Thank you. Not because of evidence, because of politics. And Ms. Pamela Patten chose to be part of it. She was not a bystander in this shameful process. She gave it credibility. She defended it. Then, when asked whether she had seen the evidence with her own eyes, she answered, and I quote, "No, because this is not my job." No, because this is not my job. She also said, "It is not the responsibility of my office to do any verification." So, Ms. Pamela Patton, help us understand this. You helped put Israel on a damaging UN blacklist. You helped advance grave accusations against Israeli soldiers and institutions. You helped give oxygen to blood libels against the Jewish state. And then you turn around and say, Verification is not your job. So let me ask you plainly: if verifying evidence is not your job, what is? If fairness and truth are not your job, what exactly is your job? Israel engaged with you and your office. I, myself, met with you and your team repeatedly over the past 6 months. But in those meetings, you never raised those— these allegations. You never presented specific cases. You never asked us to verify specific claims. You never gave Israel a real chance to answer. And then you blacklisted us anyway. You were scheduled to come to Israel twice. Twice you canceled the the trips. I was working on the itinerary. And the trips were cancelled not because Israel refused to cooperate, not because Israel closed the door, because she chose not to come. Ms. Patton, you had the chance to see the facts. You had the chance to examine the evidence, but you chose not to. So again, I must ask you, why? Why? Why did you not come to see the evidence yourself? Were you afraid the facts would not match the conclusion? This was surrender. Surrender to the Secretary-General's campaign against Israel. Surrender to the rapporteurs and the so-called UN experts who bully, pressure, and smear. You caved. You caved to the pressure. You cave to the Secretary-General's obsession with targeting Israel.

I'm sorry, but I have to make a point of order.

Oh, you will be quiet about that?

Because this is what the chair should be doing.

You spoke, now I speak.

I make a point of order.

They should not be passing it. It should not be passing it.

Shame on you.

You're part of the bullying of Israel. Shame on you. You can walk out. You spoke, now I speak. You walk out. Shame on you. You're part of this obsession.

Personal attack!

You're part of this obsession!

No personal—

Excuse me, you will allow me to finish my words!

Excuse me, excuse me, without personal attacks!

You are part of this shameful behavior!

No personal attacks!

Sorry, sorry.

No personal attacks! We'll come back to you.

Let him finish and then you have the opportunity to speak.

Shame on you!

Let him finish and then everybody will have the opportunity to speak.

You work for the UN and you will respect the rules of the UN. Respect the rules of the UN.

Ambassador.

We will not allow you to bully us. We are a member state and you work for the UN and you will be quiet now. You will be quiet. Shameful. You and your shameful reports.

I'm sorry.

We know why you took this position.

Sorry again. Sorry again. Sorry again. Ambassador, I'm—

We will not allow you to be part of this shameful campaign.

Sorry again. Ambassador, I'm—

You don't want to listen? Go out.

Sorry, let him finish and then you will have the opportunity to reply. Let him finish. Ambassador, please, please continue.

To leave your remarks to 3 minutes, under 3 minutes, please, if you wouldn't mind. Thank you.

I would like to conclude. Ms. Patton caved. She caved to the pressure. She caved to the Secretary General obsession with targeting Israel. In doing so, She gave credibility to a dangerous lie. This is part of the moral decay inside the United Nations. First, they accused Israel of starvation, then genocide, now rape. Rape. Every few months, a new blood libel is dressed up as a UN report. Ms. Pamela Patton. You are a collaborator in this disgrace. You knew better. You knew Israel had cooperated. You knew you had not verified the evidence yourself. You knew what it meant to put Israel beside Hamas after October 7th. And still, when the Secretary-General asked you to stand behind this lie, you said yes. You had a choice. You could have said no. You could have resigned. You failed to do it then, but you should resign now. Ms. Pamela Patten, you tried to stain Israel, but the stain is not on Israel. The stain is on you. Thank you.

We thank the Permanent Representative of Israel for his remarks. We will move now to the next speaker on the list, who is the Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union, Her Excellency Ambassador Hede Sampson. Thank you. You have the floor.

And I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. And we thank the Permanent Mission of Argentina, and in particular the offices of the SRSGs for Sexual Violence in Conflict and for Children in Armed Conflict, for organizing today's event. The SRSGs, for the important work they do.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and the speakers for their important remarks. The EU is gravely concerned by conflict-related sexual violence against children committed by state and non-state actors across the globe as a horrible tactic of war and terrorism. The physical, psychological, and social harm is devastating and long-lasting, both for the survivors, girls and boys alike, who face trauma, stigmatization,— and exclusion, as well as for their caregivers and communities, who are often left on their own amid the breakdown of care systems and public institutions. The future of entire generations is on the line, while perpetrators are emboldened by impunity, and this is unacceptable. The way forward is clear. It's essential to provide survivors with holistic, survivor-centered, trauma-informed care and support, including comprehensive healthcare services, child-friendly and effective reporting and justice mechanisms, as well as long-term psychosocial and reintegration support. Being child protection— building child protection systems, accessible public services, and engaging caregivers and communities are also indispensable to ensure a safe and enabling environment for recovery. And in addition, addressing the root causes of sexual violence, including gender inequalities, gender-based discrimination, and harmful social norms, as well as ensuring accountability for perpetrators and reparations for victims, are crucial to prevent and eliminate conflict-related sexual violence in the long term. The EU stands as a strong ally and committed partner in preventing and addressing conflict-related sexual violence and in supporting survivors and their communities. This translates into both principled— political commitment and concrete action. The EU and its member states remain reliable and predictable donors, providing the largest share of humanitarian funding globally. Addressing sexual and gender-based violence in emergencies and conflicts is a central priority of the EU's new strategic approach on humanitarian diplomacy. For example, in Ukraine, the EU supports national stakeholders in implementing CRSV GBV-related policies and accountability mechanisms. In Sudan, the EU supports SGBV prevention and response through service delivery and safe spaces, while also empowering women in peacebuilding through a €3 million programme. In Chad, the EU supports service providers and women's economic autonomy. And in Mali and Cameroon, the EU funds life-saving GBV response in conflict-affected regions. The EU also invests in preventing and addressing the root causes of gender-based violence beyond conflict-affected areas through the Spotlight Initiative and the ACT Act programme. Colleagues, as I conclude, let me address directly the survivors, the affected communities, and the service providers who go beyond their duty every day, and to the civil society and human rights defenders who amplify the voices of the most vulnerable. We hear you, we stand with you, we work every day for you, and we commit to step up our efforts to end the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence once and for all. And in this, we see the UN as an indispensable partner. Thank you.

Thank you. We thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union for her remarks. I'd now like to give the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of France, His Excellency Ambassador J. Dharmadhikari. You have the floor.

Thank you, Excellencies, dear colleagues. I would like first to thank Ambassador Tropepi and Argentina for convening this meeting. I'd like also to thank Mrs. Marnier-Bassonger And Ambassador Vanessa Frazier for their remarks, and also valuable contribution by Kassia Ahsoka and other testimony that we heard about the topic. And as we have heard, CRSV is neither accidental nor incidental. It is too often used as tool in war. And we heard also the crucial role of the care— the caregivers. Yeah, the main word was said, we must act, and I wanted to stress 4 points. First, and this is an important point, to preserve and strengthen the United Nations' capacity to document violations of Human Rights and IHL. At a time of information warfare and disinformation, the international community's ability to rely on credible information regarding violations verified by independent and impartial entities is essential. The recent publication of the Secretary-General's annual reports on conflict-related sexual violence and on children in armed conflicts, prepared by the Special Representatives, serve as a timely reminder of this. Of course, they can be discussed, but they are valuable documents of this organization. Preserving and strengthening the United Nations' capacity to document violations must be a central element of the organization's reform over time. Thank you. We reiterate our full support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, but also to the investigation mechanisms put in place by the Human Rights Council and other reporting mechanisms to this regard. My second point, we must of course strengthen collective efforts in the fight against impunity. We must support national and international jurisdictions in combating impunity for perpetrators, and ensuring victims' access to justice and reparations. We commend the launch by SRSG Patton of an international network of prosecutors and judges in the aftermath of the International Conference of Prosecutors held in March 2024, which France co-sponsored— co-sponsored. Sorry. My third point: we must make greater use of the tools available to the Security Council. We should place the fight against sexual and gender-based violence at the heart of peace operation mandates, as we did, for instance, for MONUSCO, and ensure that these missions include women protection advisers. We should adopt targeted sanctions against perpetrators, including the heads of command chains. France fully supports strengthening the expertise of the panels of experts assisting sanctions committees in this regard. Fourth and last point, we have to work hand in hand with civil society to support victims and ensure their access to essential health services. We should support funds such as the Global Survivors Fund providing assistance to victims and women's rights organizations on the ground. France is playing its part through its support fund for feminist organizations. So, to make it short, as a conclusion, as a member of Security Council conducting a feminist foreign policy, France will continue to commit and support the mandate of the Special Representatives. I thank you.

We thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of France, and we now hand the floor to the Deputy Permanent Representative of Panama, His Excellency Ambassador Ricardo Moscoso.

Thank you. Thank you so much for giving me the floor, and Panama thanks the offices of the Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and on Children in Armed Conflict, as well as Argentina and you, Ambassador, for convening this important event. We are especially grateful to the survivors, caregivers, and civil society representatives whose voices continue to guide our collective efforts. As coordinators of the Security Council's Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security, and as hosts of the 2025 Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence during Panama's presidency during— on the Security Council, we are firmly committed to the full implementation of Resolution 1325 and the broader Women, Peace and Security agenda. We welcome the publication of the Secretary-General's reports on conflict-related sexual violence and on Children in Armed Conflict, and reaffirm our strong support for the mandates of both Special Representatives. These reports are more than accountability tools. They are a part of our collective commitment to truth, recognition, and justice for survivors. We owe them nothing less. Conflict-related sexual violence against children rarely occurs in isolation. It is often the most extreme manifestation of a chain of violations that began much earlier with recruitment, abduction, and forced displacement, or the loss of access to education and protection. When a child becomes a victim of sexual violence, we are not witnessing a single failure of protection. We are witnessing the cumulative consequences of multiple failures that the international community was unable to prevent. After listening to the testimony of the grandmother of a little girl that was raped in a refugee camp in South Sudan, Sudan, a place that should be protected, it only shows us how urgent it is to push for advocacy and action to prevent these horrors and to ensure that the perpetrators pay for their gross violations that will surely impact this little girl all of her life. The experience of Somalia offers an important lesson. Recovery depends not only on services provided to survivors, but also on strengthening the families, caregivers, and communities that play a critical role in protection, recovery, and reintegration. When these support networks are strengthened, community resilience is strengthened as well. This understanding guided Panama's work as a former vice chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children in Armed Conflict. Earlier this year, we convened an área fórmula meeting on safe education as a tool to prevent child recruitment, because the protection of children does not begin when we assist a victim. It begins when we prevent a child from becoming one. Likewise, Panama convened an expert-level briefing on the use of emerging technologies in the recruitment of children in armed conflict. Armed groups can now reach children through means that were unimaginable only a few years ago, expanding their influence beyond traditional conflict spaces. Our protection frameworks must evolve as rapid— as threats, as the threats that children face. Finally, if we are serious about protecting children from conflict-related sexual violence, we must stop viewing it solely as a consequence of war. We must also recognize it as a warning sign, a signal that other protection mechanisms have already failed. Supporting survivors, survivors will always be essential, but our greatest responsibility is to ensure that fewer children ever become victims in the first place. Thank you, SRSG Fraser, for the essential work that you carry out through your office. We stand in solidarity with all survivors and with those working tirelessly to support them, and we renew our commitment to a world where such violence is no longer tolerated, but actively and decisively eliminated. And on that note, I would like to express Panama's sincere gratitude to SRSG Patton for her unwavering support for victims of conflict-related sexual violence, and for her principled stance in denouncing injustices where needed and taking the time to personally go to the field, connect with victims, and make the UN presence felt in places where credible information is essential, and gathering the evidence and the facts is also essential to fulfill the victims' expectations. Thank you so much.

We thank the representative of Panama for their remarks, and we turn the floor over now to the representative of Italy, Ginevra Oliva, First Counselor. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Moderator. I thank Argentina and the speakers today for their remarks. As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we stand in solidarity with all survivors, especially children, whose lives, dignity, and futures are deeply affected by these grave crimes. The Secretary-General's latest reports present an alarming picture. As it was mentioned, reported cases have increased by 35%. Yet these figures reflect only a fraction of reality, as stigma, fear, insecurity, and limited access to service continue to suppress reporting. Particularly concerning is the collapse of protection, health, and social services in many conflict settings. Where institutions fail, the burden falls on families and caregivers, most often women, many of whom are themselves survivors. Their resilience is extraordinary, But it cannot replace functioning system of protection and care. Italy, therefore, strongly supports survivor center and child-sensitive responses, including access to healthcare, psychosocial support, education, legal assistance, and community-based protection services. We also underline the essential role of care— caregiver and community in recovery, reintegration, and long-term healing. At the same time, we must confront impunity. Accountability remains insufficient in too many contexts. Justice for survivors is not only a moral imperative, but a cornerstone of prevention, reconciliation, and sustainable peace. We are also deeply concerned by growing funding shortfalls for programs supporting survivors of sexual violence. At a time of rising needs, shrinking resources risk leaving countless children and families without essential support. Italy remains firmly committed to the protection of children affected by armed conflict, the elimination of conflict-related sexual violence, and the promotion of accountability and survivor-centered approaches. As a longstanding supporter of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, we continue to support the work of the UN team of experts effort and the rule of law of sexual violence in conflict. Finally, let me conclude. Italy reaffirms its determination to support international efforts to prevent sexual— sexual violence in conflict and emergency settings, including in the context of its 2026 and 2028 Human Rights Council mandate. Excellencies, let us reaffirm our collective responsibility to protect children, support survivors, empower caregivers, and restore hope to communities affected by conflicts.

Thank you very much. Thank you. We thank the representative of Italy and now turn the floor over to the representative of Spain, Councillor Francisco López Lorenzana.

Thank you very much, Madam Moderator. Dear co-organizers of this International Day, the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the SRSG for Children in Armed Conflict, and the Permanent Mission of Argentina. Dear colleagues, Spain is a proud contributor and supporter of UN action against sexual violence. We believe that its mandate and the platform it has created is the best way to address CRSV while giving support, protection, and empowering the victim survivors, while supporting also the caregivers. We call other member states to join the efforts of UN Action and help us end sexual violence in conflict, and even more so the one focused on children that we are talking about now. UN Action activities have been recently focused on Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, among others. As we have heard and seen the testimony in Somalia, it's very important to help these many victims and survivors and give them what— all the support that they need. During the last year, Spain has not only contributed through financial resources, but we also have been organizing retreats and seminars here in New York with UN Action and other member states. Examples of these are a training seminar for Security Council members or a discussion at Instituto Cervantes during Women, Peace and Security Month in October to promote a holistic response to CRSB. Together with the missions of Colombia and the DRC. Spain also supports the work carried out by the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Office of the SRSG of Children in Armed Conflict. We support the mandate of both Special Representatives, Mr. Pramila Patten and Ms. Vanessa Fraser, and we like the mandate of the latter to be focused only in children in armed conflict, as we believe that this matter is of particular importance and deserves undivided attention. Rest assured that Spain will continue to support the commemoration of this International Day with the hope that one day this will no longer be necessary. Until then, you can count on Spain, who will continue to work with Allies and partners in this grave and critical issue. Thank you.

I thank the Representative of Spain and now invite the Representative of India, First Secretary Raghu Puri. You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair. Excellencies, dear colleagues, I take this opportunity to thank the Permanent Mission of Argentina, Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict for Children in Armed Conflict, for organizing today's discussion to mark the 12th International Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Our world today is increasingly marred by wars, conflicts and terrorist attacks. Children are unfortunately the most, uh, number of casualties. SRSG CAC's 2025 report had sobering statistics. Sexual violence against children in conflict rose by 35%. Over 7,000 children were newly recruited by armed groups. The fact that these acts continue with impunity is gut-wrenching. My delegation joins in condemning such heinous acts as well as its perpetrators. Therefore, I thank the distinguished briefers for sharing experiences and insights with us. Their testimonies were indeed sobering. A multifaceted approach is essential for national governments to fulfill their role in eliminating sexual violence in armed conflict. This includes prosecuting and deterring such crimes in conflict situations, ensuring no impunity for perpetrators, adopting a survivor-centered approach in preventing and response to conflict-related sexual violence. In the UN context, the deployment of child protection advisors was a step towards identifying and addressing violations against children. The increasing presence of women peacekeepers, their ability to connect with local communities and address gender-sensitive areas makes them impactful and enhances the credibility of the UN mission. Thank you. Domestically, India has taken several steps to protect children in all circumstances of distress. India has established the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. It ensures that all laws, policies, programs conform to the provisions of the Constitution of India, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They also possess the power to inquire into violation of child rights. And recommend suo moto initiatives or proceedings in such cases. The POSCO Act that India came out with was a comprehensive legislation enacting to protect minors. It is a gender-neutral act with stringent penal provisions obligating medical professionals to report suspect abuse of children. The SAKHI one-stop centers provide critical time-bound assistance to girls under 18 who are victims of abuse or violence. Excellencies, colleagues, while the above measures are taken post facto, our biggest responsibility is to prevent the incidence of such grave circumstances. The root cause lies in conflicts and wars that throw societies into chaos, that allow instability to breed and impunity to take root. An enduring solution to this requires political will for earnest dialogue and diplomacy and prevent conflicts from breaking out. Allow me to once again thank the Permanent Mission of Argentina for taking the initiative to commemorate this important day. I reiterate India's conviction and commitment to contribute towards elimination of sexual violence. I thank you.

We thank the representative of India, and I now call on the representative of Japan, Second Secretary Atsuko Yamada. To take the floor.

Thank you. Today, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as the Permanent Mission of Argentina for organizing this important event. Sexual violence in conflict is an issue that destroys the very fabric of society. Even after conflict has ended, survivors often require a long time to recover both physically and psychologically. However, support for survivors is frequently delayed in the post-conflict phase, which prevents them from being fully integrated into the cycle of recovery and reconstruction. One of the key factors contributing to this challenge is impunity. The Government of Japan has long been committed to improving access to justice for women and girls. Starting in 2025, Japan has been supporting a project by the team of experts of the OSRSJ SBC for reinforcing access to justice for victims and survivors for conflict-related sexual violence. Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project aims to increase restoration of sheer— [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] —incident to law enforcement and judicial authority in conflict-affected areas, as well as to provide technical and logistical support to investigation and prosecution of this violence, including enhanced judicial cooperation across borders. Ensuring access to justice for women and girls especially during and after the conflict, contribute to the realization of Japan's longstanding foreign policy pillar of "Women, Peace and Security," and is a crucial factor in reinforcing recovery and peacebuilding effort. These efforts are based on human security approach, which places each woman and girls at the center to effectively protect their dignity. In Japan, we continue to contribute to improve— improving their access to justice, focusing on the protection and empowerment of those most vulnerable, in particular women and girls. I thank you.

We thank the representative of Japan, and I would now like to invite the representative of Colombia, Councillor Juan Manuel Tellez, to take the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Colombia welcomes this discussion and wishes to emphasize that that children who survive conflict-related sexual violence must remain at the center of our response. Beyond the immediate harm, these violations can have profound and lasting consequences for children's health, education, protection, and future opportunities. A survivor-centered approach requires access to comprehensive and age-appropriate services, including medical care, psycho— psychosocial support, legal assistance, education, and safe reintegration into families and communities. We must also recognize the critical role of caregivers who are often the first source of protection and support for child survivors. Their needs should be reflected in policies and programs, including through psychosocial and community-based support. In many cases and contexts, they are the ones who ensure continuity of care, access to services, reintegration, and social acceptance. Their role should be recognized in policy, programming, and financing. Colombia also stresses the importance of supporting local women-led, survivor-led, and child protection organizations whose access, trust, and contextual knowledge are often essential to reaching affected children. At the same time, services are not alone enough. Accountability remains indispensable. Perpetrators, no matter who they are, must be investigated and prosecuted, and conflict-related sexual violence should be addressed from the outset in peacebuilding and transitional justice efforts. Justice and care must dance together. Finally, prevention must remain a priority. This requires addressing risk factors such as abduction, recruitment, displacement, trafficking, and the presence of armed actors around schools and other protective spaces, while strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Protecting children from conflict-related sexual violence is not only a humanitarian imperative, it is essential for sustainable peace, recovery, and social cohesion. Finally, let me express the unwavering support of my delegation to the mandates and works of the Office of the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict and the Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. We acknowledge their commitment to delivering despite the increasing constraints and attacks. Count on our continued support. I thank you.

We thank the Representative of Colombia. And now I invite the Representative of Timor-Leste, Councillor Licínio Branco, to take the the floor.

Thank you, Madam Moderator. I wish to thank Argentina and the speakers. Excellencies, Timor-Leste is a joint member state in affirming that conflict-related sexual violence against children is among the gravest violations of international law and one of the 6 graves violations identified and condemned by the UN Security Council. It is not incidental byproduct of war, we believe it is a deliberate tactic that destroys bodies, fractures the families, and leaves deep social scars and can endure for generations. The Council Resolution 1261 placed children affected by conflict firmly on its agenda, while Resolution 82 strengthened the protections framework by addressing sexual violence against children and a struggle for accountability and actions. Timor-Leste experience shows that children who survive conflict-related sexual violence carry lifelong physical and social harms. At the same time, caregivers are often left to shoulder the burden of recovery in environments where services are fragile and stigma remains powerful. Timor-Leste's own constitutions and legal framework reflect that obligation. Our constitution guarantees children's special protections by the families and community and the state, particularly against abandonment, discrimination, violence, oppression, sexual abuse, and exploitation. Our penal code criminalizes sexual coercions, rape, child protection, child pornography, and sexual abuse of minors, with aggravated penalties where the victim is a child. These national efforts are echoed in our international commitment to— Timor-Leste ratified the Convention on the Rights of Children in 2003, the Optional Protocol, and the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in 2005. for in acceptance Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2002. We also recorded our second National Action Plan on Women and Peace and Security, comparing 2024-2028, was approved in January 2024 and launched in February 2024, reflecting our determination to link prevention of violence, women participation, and child— within a broader peaceful— peacebuilding framework. From Timor-Leste's perspective, the response must be holistic. It must include early identification, safe reporting channels, physical care, medical support, legal aid, and family and community reintegration. It must also empower frontline responders, social workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, and local leaders, because protection fails when institutions are weak or disconnected from communities they serve. Most importantly, we must end impunity. Where accountability is absent, repetition follows. Where justice is credible, prevention becomes possible. Excellencies, Timor-Leste stands ready to work with member states United Nations entities and civil society to ensure that every child, every conflict, and every post-conflict citizen can grow in safety, dignity, and hope. Ending conflict-related sexual violence against children is a legal duty, a moral imperative, and— and lasting peace.

We thank the representative of Timor-Leste for their remarks, and I would now like to I would like to call on the representative of Ukraine, First Secretary Oleksiy Kondyk, to take the floor.

Thank you very much. I would like to thank Argentina and the organizers for convening such an important event. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the SRSJ Pramila Patten and Ambassador Vanessa Fraser. For their tireless efforts and steadfast commitment. Ukraine highly values your dedicated work and your important contribution to documenting grave violations, in particular crimes committed by the Russian Federation. We also express our strong support for your efforts and deeply admire your moral strength and dedication. We are confident that your work is truly essential and makes a real difference that— for victims and survivors. Please be assured that your commitment is highly valued, and we trust that you will continue this important work with determination in the pursuit of justice and accountability. We welcome the continued work of the UN mechanism, which clearly demonstrates the systematic nature of crimes committed by Russian forces and contribute to ensuring accountability. If I may ask, given your visits to Ukraine and Russia, and noting that Russia has been included in the Shame List for the first time, could you please briefly share your assessment of the key factors behind the significant increase in these Russian violations compared to previous years? Thank you so much.

We thank the representative of Ukraine for their remarks. I would like now to invite the representative of Chile, Josefina Streeter, to take the floor.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I would like to start by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children armed conflict and the permanent mission of Argentina to the United Nations providing this valuable opportunity for reflection and collective commitment. Conflict-related sexual violence remains one of the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. It is neither accidental or incidental. As we have heard today, it is frequently used deliberately as a tactic of war, terror, repression,— and countries with women and girls being disproportionately affected. When victims are children and adolescents, the consequences are particularly devastating and long-lasting. The impact extends beyond the individual child, affecting families, communities, and protection systems. Caregivers, most often women, carry a significant burden, as many are themselves survivors of gender violence. While continuing to provide essential care, protection, and support for child survivors. This is why Chile particularly welcomes the focus of this commemoration on the role of caregivers and communities. Women, mothers, grandmothers, neighbors often play a vital role in supporting the recovery, protection, and reintegration of child survivors. Their participation, recognition, and empowerment should be an integral an integral part of any sustainable response. Distinguished colleagues, Chile unequivocally condemns all forms of sexual violence. We reaffirm that these acts must prevent— must be prevent, investigated, and prosecute. We call upon the international community to redouble its efforts to prevent these crimes, strength protection measures, support victims and survivors, and combat impunity. We must ensure that perpetrators are held responsible. Chile reaffirms its commitments to the protection of child— children, the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, and the strengthening of international humanitarian law in line with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the Children and Armed Conflict Framework. On this day and through our collective action, we can help to break the cycle of violence and impunity that allows such atrocities to persist. Let's keep working together to ensure a safe, dignified, and hopeful future for every child affected by armed conflict. Thank you.

We thank the representative of Chile. And the Special Representative of the Secretary-General has requested a short right of response. I will turn the floor over now to Chloé Marnay-Bazanger to deliver that remark.

Thank you, moderator. And it's unfortunate that we have to politicize the event. Today is a day when we focus on sexual violence against children and their caregiver, and we thank Argentina for bringing us together to discuss this really important issue, and we don't want to take away from the rising surge of sexual violence against children which we've seen in the past years in all of our reports. Let me just remind everyone that at the UN and our mandate— our mandates treat all and every victim equally according to the same tested methodology. This includes using the same working methods, whether for victims of the horrendous 7th of October attack or for Palestinian victims. Thank you. Ukrainian victims, or for any victims for that matter. We have the same duty to all victims of empathy, care, and accuracy of fact for those under our watch. We stand by the Secretary General's report, which is based on credible and verified information. I will point everyone to the press conference of the SRSG when she released her report, where there are a number of explanations for questions anyone might have. Thank you. And we stand ready to continue to engage, Ambassador Dannon, with Israel like we have constructively to deal with the scourge of sexual violence in conflict so that it never happens again to anyone. Thank you.

Okay. We have a request from another member state for a statement. The Russian Federation would like to take the floor. Representative is here.

Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair. Well, actually, we would like to thank the co-organizers for this event, and we believe that it is really important that we have an opportunity together in the UN premises to reaffirm our shared commitment for ending the war great violation of sexual violence against children, and to reunite and to discuss the problem in a depoliticized manner. So I would like to express our deep regret that there is a delegation in this room who chose to use this event for targeting deliberately the Russian Federation in that regard. I will not share with you the assessments of the decision made to include the Russian Federation in the list to the Secretary General's report on conflict-related sexual violence. The comprehensive assessment of that fact has already been given by our permanent representative in his stakeout on the 4th of June. So I just refer you to that one. But still, for those who closely follow the alleged violations committed by the Russian military. Well, first of all, it must be clear that nothing in that report has to do with children and violations against children, first and foremost. In the SRSG's, in the report, in the SRSG's report on children in armed conflict, there is nothing that has to do with sexual violence, against children, the Russian Federation is not listed for sexual violence against children. So it would be important to note that in order to include a country in a list of states, a pattern of a certain violation must be proven. And a pattern means that there is, that there are repeated actions in repeated circumstances. And where the pattern can be found is in deliberate attacks of Ukraine against Russian citizens, especially those using drone attacks. And just in a couple of recent days, we had a chance to witness a number of such attacks against Russian civilian infrastructure, against residential buildings where children were dying. And I believe that this is probably not the best forum to discuss that, but I think that all those who pay so much attention to what's happening between Russia and Ukraine will have a chance to express their views and to condemn the actions of Ukraine against Russian children in our territories during the upcoming open debate on children in armed conflict on the 24th of June. Thank you. So, we really believe that the international community will be able to tackle this problem in a comprehensive and equitable manner. I thank you.

We thank the representative of Russia. Are there any other member states who would like to make remarks this morning? I don't see any other member states, so that leaves me to simply thank our panelists, Thank you, Mrs. Al-Hajjaj, thank you to all of you, thank you for being here today. Thank you to our member states and the regional groups for taking the floor, and all of you for your continued support of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Mandate and for your commitment to addressing conflict-related sexual violence. Thank you for being here today. That concludes the event.