The UN Secretary-General recently published his 10th report on Conflict Related Sexual Violence. The report highlights 19 countries, where the detrimental and lasting impact of prolonged sexual violence continues to devastate victims and impede peace and prosperity. It puts forth several critical recommendations – ones consistently made by survivors in our own countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq, as well as in many of other countries we have visited.

We support the recommendations set forth and would like to highlight critical elements of great importance to survivors – holistic support and justice and accountability. Survivors not only need, but should be entitled to, comprehensive support for life-saving medical and psycho-social services as well as access to livelihoods, education and legal counsel. Survivors are also entitled to justice for the harms inflicted upon them and perpetrators should be held accountable for their crimes. Ending impunity for sexual violence is essential and will deter and prevent future such violations.

Prosecuting perpetrators of mass atrocities is crucial, but mechanisms for reparations for victims are equally as important. Providing reparations to victims of sexual violence is a moral imperative that needs to be recognized globally by our collective conscience. Reparations would also serve to help ensure non-repetition; and survivors see ending impunity for sexual violence as essential to deterring and preventing such violations. Those who commit sexual violence cannot be allowed to do so without consequence.

Together, we join our voices with that of the UN Secretary-General to urge the Security Council to strengthen its follow-up on the compliance of parties to conflict. The lack of such regular review is a gap that exists in the accountability system – and one which allows harms to be inflicted. The unacceptable reality is that the majority of the parties listed by the Secretary-General have completely ignored the demands of the Security Council for the past decade to immediately cease violations. Without the will of the international community and imposed consequences, crimes will continue to be perpetrated.

We are hopeful that an agreed resolution this week will finally mean that these remedies and mechanisms, which have been urgently needed for so long, can be put in place. We urge all members of the Security Council to stand in solidarity with survivors and civil society groups on the frontlines of conflicts by adopting a strong, bold and meaningful agreement. There is simply no excuse for continuing to fail those who have already been victimized – as well as those who continue to be at risk of – devastating levels of sexual violence in conflict.