STATEMENT BY
H.E. MR. KALILU IBRAHIM TOTANGI
AMBASSADOR AND DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
/ CHARGE D’AFFAIRES a.i.
Mr. President,
I thank the presidency of Panama for convening this timely and important open debate.
We also express our appreciation to SRSG Pramila Patten, for her comprehensive and sobering briefing, and Ms. Ikhlass Ahmed for her compelling contribution. We take note of their important recommendations towards developing comprehensive and coordinated responses to address sexual violence in conflict situations.
We commend the many survivors, women, men, and children, whose testimonies continue to inform the work of this Council and galvanize global action. The Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2025/389) presents a sobering picture. With over 4,600 verified cases in 2024 alone, a 20 percent increase from the previous year, it is evident that conflict-related sexual violence remains a deliberate and widespread tactic used by both State and non-State actors to inflict terror, displace communities, and undermine peace. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected, comprising over 90 percent of the documented cases.
Sierra Leone’s own history during the civil conflict, that ended decades ago, continues to inform our domestic policies and international advocacy. We recall the grave violations suffered by our women and girls, rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage, carried out with impunity until justice was delivered through the Special Court for Sierra Leone. That Court’s work set a historic precedent by securing landmark convictions for sexual violence, including the recognition of forced marriage as a crime against humanity, and contributed significantly to the development of international jurisprudence in this area. This legacy guides our continued call for accountability and survivor-centred justice.
Mr. President,
Despite the normative framework established by this Council through resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1960, 2106, 2242, and 2467, the persistent gap between commitment and compliance remains deeply concerning. As highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report, more than 70 percent of listed perpetrators are repeat offenders. Weak legal systems, inadequate political will, humanitarian access constraints, and under-resourced protection programmes continue to undermine efforts to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence.
Of particular concern is the rising incidence of such violence in displacement settings, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and across the Sahel. Armed groups exploit power vacuums and weak governance structures to target civilians with impunity. The withdrawal of UN peace operations, without adequate transition planning or reallocation of resources, further compounds these risks. Health infrastructure is increasingly targeted in conflict, and humanitarian personnel face threats that constrain access to affected populations and the provision of essential services.
Noting the discussions in the Council’s thematic briefing convened by Sierra Leone last August (2024) on “sustaining women, peace and security commitments in the context of accelerated drawdown of peace operations”, it is imperative that the drawdown and transition of UN peace operations are accompanied by robust protection strategies, including the continued deployment of Women Protection Advisers and the integration of conflict-related sexual violence mandates into residual missions or UN country teams. The presence of these advisers enhances early warning, prevention, and accountability mechanisms and must be supported through regular budget allocations rather than ad hoc contributions.
Equally important is the need to invest in holistic, multisectoral responses for survivors, healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and economic empowerment. Services must be trauma-informed, survivor-centred, and accessible, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas. In Sierra Leone, for example, community-based initiatives such as Rainbow Centres have proven critical in offering integrated support to survivors and serve as models for scalable, locally owned interventions.
At the national level, and outside of the conflict context, Sierra Leone remains committed to advancing the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence. We have enacted laws prohibiting child marriage and gender-based violence, strengthened institutional mechanisms for redress, and are currently reviewing our National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to enhance its inclusivity and effectiveness. However, like many developing countries, our efforts require sustained international support, technical assistance, and predictable financing.
We acknowledge the indispensable role of civil society and women-led organizations in prevention, documentation, and service delivery, especially in areas where State structures have weakened or collapsed. We therefore emphasize the need to create enabling environments for their participation, while condemning attacks against women human rights defenders, healthcare providers, and humanitarian personnel. These frontline actors must be protected, empowered, and fully included in all prevention and response strategies.
We commend the work of the UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Their support in strengthening national legal systems, advancing accountability, and ensuring coordinated UN action on the ground remains invaluable. We call for sustained political and financial support for the CRSV Multi-Partner Trust Fund to expand the reach and impact of this work.
As we consider the theme of this year’s debate, Sierra Leone supports a forward-looking approach that integrates innovation and local ownership. Emerging tools such as mobile clinics, digital platforms for psychosocial support, and survivor-led early warning networks can complement traditional mechanisms. At the same time, the importance of protecting women civil society leaders and human rights defenders must be emphasized, as they remain critical frontline actors in prevention and response efforts, particularly in contexts where State systems have collapsed or been compromised. I
We also support stronger measures to address impunity. The consideration of CRSV in the context of targeted sanctions, vetting of security personnel, reparations, and transitional justice processes remains critical. The inclusion of sexual violence as a stand-alone listing criterion in relevant sanctions regimes should be fully implemented and operationalized.
In conclusion, Sierra Leone reaffirms its commitment to the full and effective implementation of the women, peace and security agenda and to the elimination of all forms of sexual violence in conflict. The dignity and agency of survivors must be central to our collective response. We must transform commitments into action, resolutions into results, and political will into tangible change. Ending impunity, strengthening institutions, and restoring hope for survivors are not only legal and moral imperatives, they are indispensable to building just, peaceful, and resilient societies. I thank you.