The Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden remain deeply concerned by the continued prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence and welcome today’s open debate, at the initiative of Germany.
With the adoption of Security Council resolution 2467, we stress that it is essential to advance the agenda of conflict-related sexual violence focusing on the survivors. The resolution puts a particular focus on support for survivors and accountability. We must redouble our efforts to end and prevent conflict-related sexual violence. That is what Nobel Prize laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad stressed in their powerful testimonies to the Security Council earlier today.
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls is key. “Services for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, such as access to emergency contraception and safe termination of pregnancies, must be strengthened”, noted Ambassador Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway.
We deeply regret that hard-fought progress on survivors’ access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights was not part of resolution 2467, due to the threat of a veto of a permanent member of the Security Council.
“It is disappointing that one of the original champions of this agenda could not acknowledge survivors of sexual violence, who are often the targets of atrocious acts of violence, their sexual and reproductive health and rights in this resolution”, said Ambassador Irina Schoulgin Nyoni, Chargée d’affaires a.i. of Sweden.