The recent report of the Secretary-General warrants serious consideration, given the overwhelming evidence that sexual violence in situations of armed conflict and post-conflict remains systemic and widespread in many parts of the world. We are conscious that the consequences of those egregious crimes are devastating for affected communities.

My delegation is of the view that civil society and women's organizations are important partners in efforts aimed at preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence and in providing victims and survivors with information and support, towards facilitating their access to health services, legal assistance, basic services and livelihood assistance.

My delegation commends the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in enhancing the capacity-building of civilian and military justice systems to address sexual violence.

My delegation acknowledges the significant gains recorded in the past decade towards building political momentum in the fight against the scourge of sexual violence in conflict. Undoubtedly, that has contributed to a more focused, coherent and integrated approach across the United Nations system in addressing this complex and persistent challenge.

In the broader framework of prevention, we have long advocated for the explicit referencing of sexual violence in conflict in all the relevant country-specific resolutions, as well as in the authorizations and renewals of the mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions.

In that regard, Member States, and key United Nations bodies such as the Peacebuilding Commission, UN-Women and the United Nations Development Programme, working with United Nations country teams and peace missions, have a critical role to play in supporting and capacitating the development of civil society and women's organizations at community and local levels.

In conclusion, every effort must be made to end impunity by perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict. My delegation therefore affirms its support for the inclusion of sexual violence in the definition of acts prohibited during ceasefires, including the exclusion of perpetrators of sexual violence from amnesty provisions.

We should not forget that sexual exploitation and abuse in conflict and post-conflict situations is not only committed by members of the parties to the conflict, but also by United Nations personnel. Therefore, we welcome the developments in applying the United Nations zero-tolerance policy in certain situations on the Council's agenda.

We believe that the primary responsibility for the prosecution of conflict-related crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, lies with States.

The Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court play an important part in upholding accountability for perpetrators and the fight against impunity. Their role should be seen as an important element in establishing peace and security and the rule of law.