Security Council Open Debate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, April 2018: Norway

The International Criminal Court plays a central role in the fight against impunity, but states have the primary duty to prevent and investigate cases, and to prosecute the perpetrators. Strengthening the capacity of national institutions to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual-and gender based violence during peacetime and conflict, is therefore critical for accountability [...] We work with SRSG Patten, the Team of Experts, UN Action and Justice Rapid Response. Justice Rapid Response and UN Women are doing valuable work for example in training experts in investigating SGBV crimes.

The challenges are immense: insufficient protection mechanisms, inadequate rule of law and weak judicial systems, poor services for survivors, stigmatization of victims and witnesses of gender-based violence, structural discrimination, economic and social inequalities, just to mention a few.