Pointing to 20 situations of concern in the Secretary-General’s most recent report (document S/2023/413) on the subject, she said women and girls account for 94 per cent of the 2,455 United Nations-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence committed in 2022.

“Every new wave of warfare brings with it a rising tide of human tragedy, including new waves of war’s oldest, most silenced and least condemned crime,” she stressed. The world is facing the highest number of conflicts since the Second World War, she reported, adding that the number of people forced to flee their homes has reached a record 110 million. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said rising militarization and arms proliferation are bringing conflicts across the globe to a boiling point, with gang rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence being used as tactics of war, torture and terrorism.

With gang rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence used as tactics of war amid rising militarization and weapons proliferation, the Security Council must close the gap between its commitments to address conflict-related sexual violence and the shocking realities for victims and survivors, delegates heard today during the 15-nation organ’s open debate on sexual violence in conflict situations.ĭuring the day-long meeting titled “Promoting Implementation of Security Council Resolutions on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence”, 70 speakers took the floor, united in their condemnation of sexual violence in conflict, with many highlighting the urgent need for the Council to fully implement its various resolutions on the matter.

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