Mr. President, Let me at the outset thank the UK Presidency, and in particular His Excellency Lord Ahmad, Minister of State and the Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, for convening an Open Debate on this vital aspect of international peace and security. We thank SRSG Pattern and other briefers for the information provided today. Mr. President, 2. Despite Security Council’s efforts since the adoption of resolution 1820, there seems to be no end in sight of for a growing number of victims of conflict related sexual violence. 3. The Secretary-General’s Report has documented 2455 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2022. These are only a small proportion of this under-reported crime. The report lists 49 parties, including states and non-state actors, responsible for such crimes. 4. However, the credibility of the Report is seriously eroded because of what looks like a deliberate decision not to report the crimes of sexual violence being committed in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and in Israeli-occupied Palestine. 5. There is ample documented evidence that since 1989 Indian occupation forces have used rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war in occupied Kashmir. Thousands of women and girls have been raped and gang raped, and subjected to enforced incarceration, torture and abduction. The infamous incident of Kunan Poshpora is raw in the memories of all Kashmiris. Thousands of women and girls, boys and men have been detained and subjected to sexual violence and torture as punishment and humiliation. Entire communities – women, girls, and boys – are prevented from their rights, including freedom of expression and religion, education and employment. This is corroborated by the two reports of 2018 and 2019 issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is also corroborated by the international media, and human rights organizations. And since India’s unilateral and illegal measures of 5 August 2019, conflict-related violence and harassment and humiliation of women and girls in Kashmir has increased significantly. 6. We would, therefore, urge the Secretary-General to rectify the Report’s omissions and include information on the incidence of sexual violence in foreign occupied Kashmir and Palestine and list India and Israel amongst those parties perpetrating conflict-related sexual violence in future reports to the Security Council. Mr. President, 7. This open debate is a somber reminder of the need to take decisive action: We would urge all Security Council resolutions related to protracted conflicts should be faithfully implemented; The implementation of this issue should cover all four pillars of the WPS Agenda; The gaps in oversight and investigation mechanisms should be addressed to end culture of impunity; And finally the provision of timely assistance, health services, rehabilitation, and reintegration in response to sexual violence in conflicts should be strengthened and adequately funded. I thank you *-*-*-*-*
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