Commemoration of the 15-Year Anniversary of the Establishment of the Mandate on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Intervention delivered by Ms. Kristel Lõuk, Deputy Permanent Representative of Estonia
23 October 2024, New York
Special Representative, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for convening us today and enabling a discussion on this extremely challenging topic. Allow me to express my respect to all survivors who have found the strength to speak about their experience.
Estonia has been a long-standing supporter of the Special Representative’s Mandate and we contribute to the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence. Estonia is also a donor of several international agencies, including the UN Women and UNFPA, that helps us reach to survivors of sexual violence all across the globe. I would like to reaffirm Estonia’s continuing support – both financial and political.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The reports on conflict-related sexual violence always leave us shocked. We very much agree with those highlighting that the increase of cases of sexual and gender-based violence is concurrent with the surging number of armed conflicts. Thus, to be able to decisively tackle the root causes of conflict-related sexual violence, member states must first of all foster peace and security.
I would further like to bring out some of the steps we have taken in our national capacity. One of the means is through the Women, Peace and Security agenda, which was also one of our priorities during our elected membership in the UN Security Council. Estonia has so far adopted three National Action Plans for implementing the Security Council resolution 1325. Our National Action Plan explicitly refers to the need to combat impunity, including by emphasising the role of the International Criminal Court. Estonia is a committed advocate for accountability and we will keep up our efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. Estonia therefore strongly supports establishing special tribunals to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including conflict-related sexual violence.
As the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is happening in close proximity to Estonia, it has brought high numbers of Ukrainian refugees to my country. We ensure that in welcoming them, the survivors of sexual violence get the support they need. Estonia follows standards for the safe and effective documentation and recording of survivors’ experiences with full respect to their rights regarding dignity, privacy, and health. In this regard, we call the Special Representative to list Russian armed forces and law enforcement agencies as a party committing acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence.
Finally, I would like to reaffirm strong support to the need to amplify the voices of survivors and engage their recommendations so that we would be able to truly address their needs.
Thank you.