Over the past 27 years, northern Uganda and several of its neighbouring countries, including South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been subjected to armed conflict, instability, displacement of the population and widespread and brutal forms of sexual and gender- based crimes committed by a range of perpetrators, including armed forces, militia groups and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

Let me again draw on our experience in Uganda. In 2011, the International Crimes Division within Uganda became operational, with the jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in compliance with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

In the past decade of our work, the Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice has worked with thousands of victims/survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and monitored accountability for such crimes in several conflict or post-conflict countries.

Implementing the existing resolutions regarding the commission of sexual violence in armed conflict, highlighting its impact on those targeted by these crimes, especially girls and women, and addressing the purpose of this particular form of violence are essential steps for effecting change in this crisis.

However, there are also challenges at the national level when attempting to prosecute conflict-related crimes, including sexual violence.

Domestic efforts must be complemented by effective international prosecutions; United Nations interventions empowered to engage militias and other perpetrators of these crimes; effective protection mechanisms for civilians, including those targeting sexual violence; cooperative regional bodies; and, above all, compliance by the United Nations and Member States with their collective resolutions and recommendations on security, women, peace and

We appreciate the focus of this debate on impunity for crimes of sexual violence. Impunity makes those responsible for crimes confident enough to use sexual violence as a tactic of war. Impunity takes away any hope for justice from victims and survivors. Impunity is a stumbling block in rebuilding peaceful societies after conflicts. In order to make a full contribution to our discussion, I will focus on six specific points.

To conclude, today we must all send a strong message to the perpetrators of sexual violence. They must know that sexual violence is not cost-free. The more seriously we endeavour to make this message a reality, the closer we will come to finally relegating rape in war to history books.

Thirdly, sexual violence should be addressed in peace agreements. Sexual violence should be included in the definition of acts prohibited by ceasefires. The principle of no amnesty for the perpetrators for crimes of sexual violence should always be respected. The participation of women in peace negotiations and ceasefires are the best way to ensure that these issues are not traded off for other agendas.

Sixthly, and lastly, comprehensive strategies are needed. While we are thoroughly committed to bringing to justice the perpetrators of sexual violence, we must give equal priority to the health, safety and the dignity of survivors. National and international programmes for post-conflict reconstruction must ensure that the needs of victims are met and their voices heard.