World: Remarks of SRSG Patten at the High-level Event “Combatting Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation by Armed and Terrorist Groups: Closing Information Gaps and Strengthening Cooperation to Promote Accountability for Survivors”, New York, 7 July

Country: World Source: UN Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict Opening Remarks of SRSG Patten at the High-level Event on Occasion of the 2026 UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Combatting Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation by Armed and Terrorist Groups: Closing Information Gaps and Strengthening Cooperation to Promote Accountability for Survivors New York, 7 July 2026 Excellencies, distinguished guests, The past years have confronted us with relentless challenges stemming from armed conflict and the rise of extremist groups. In these chaotic landscapes, we have witnessed the emergence of a horrific shadow economy, where individuals, predominantly women and girls, are sold into the nightmare of sexual slavery. Thank you for joining us at this pivotal moment to assess progress made since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2331, and to address the remaining gaps in combating the scourge of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation in conflict situations. We know how devastating and far-reaching these abuses can be – inflicting not only immediate but long-term physical and psychological damage to victims. Addressing these harms is thus not only a moral imperative but also critical to rebuilding societies ravaged by conflict. I am delighted to be co-hosting this event with the Permanent Representative of Denmark, Her Excellency Ms. Christina Markus Lassen. Thank you, Ambassador, for your strong support for this mandate. I wish also to thank our other co-sponsors – France, Latvia and Panama – for their presence and commitment, as well as our distinguished panelists. Excellencies, More than a decade ago, the world watched with horror as ISIL institutionalized sexual slavery and commodified women and girls as spoils of war in Iraq and Syria. My Office shed light on the open slave markets in Raqqa, Syria, and exposed price lists and so-called Fatwas which regulate the sale, transfer and trafficking of sex slaves. Women and girls were being traded for cigarettes or sold for up to $25,000 . The harrowing stories of survivors I met, including from the Yazidi community, stay with me today. But let’s be clear: these are not tactics exclusive to Da’esh. Over the past 15 years, the United Nations has documented horrifying accounts of sexual violence perpetrated against Somali women by Al-Shabaab; against Nigerian girls by Boko Haram; and women in Northern Mali living under the shadow of Ansar Eddine. The actions of Da’esh and other armed and terrorist groups prompted the Security Council in 2016 to adopt resolution 2331, a landmark recognition of the nexus between trafficking in persons, sexual violence and violent extremism. SCR 2331 highlighted that trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation is not just a consequence, but a potential driver of conflict. It acknowledged what survivors had long known: that the use of sexual violence by parties to conflict is not incidental – it is deliberate . It is deployed by certain armed and terrorist groups as part of their strategic objectives and ideology . Ten years since its adoption, where are we? The latest report of the Secretary-General on Conflict-related Sexual Violence indicates that trafficking of women and girls remained prevalent in 2025: In remote areas of the Sahel, girls as young as 11 were forced into sexual slavery and repeated rapes in captivity by armed groups, leading to unwanted pregnancies. In South Sudan abduction and sexual slavery continued to be used as a collective punishment of rival communities, driving displacement. In Haiti , sexual slavery and exploitation, though chronically underreported, constitute a systematic practice by multiple gangs, with survivors abducted, held under threat of force, repeatedly raped and trafficked for sexual exploitation. Yet, the data we have is only the tip of the iceberg . Survivors continue to be silenced by barriers to reporting, including stigma, fear of reprisals, lack of services and widespread insecurity. Global trends including shrinking resources, UN mission transitions and drawdowns, and humanitarian access restrictions are further diminishing our capacity to monitor abuses and undermining our capacities to effectively prevent and respond to such crimes. In short, if we do not see, we cannot act. Through resolution 2331, the Security Council charted a clear path towards greater accountability. It called on Member States to: ratify or accede to relevant international instruments, including the Palermo Protocol [the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children]; investigate and prosecute perpetrators; disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks , including through counter-terrorism laws; and implement robust victim protection and support mechanisms . Resolution 2331 furthermore placed trafficking in persons and sexual violence squarely into the work of Security Council sanctions committees – paving the way for a response aimed at preventing and deterring these crimes. While there are some encouraging trends, such as the almost universal ratification of the Palermo Protocol, or the adoption in 2018 of sanctions against six leaders of human trafficking networks in Libya, which sent a clear message that the Security Council will hold perpetrators accountable through sanctions, clearly much more remains to be done . Excellencies, We must address the remaining gaps that enable these crimes to flourish with impunity , perpetrators to walk free , and survivors to carry the pain without justice. Allow me to highlight a few recommendations in this regard: First, we need to strengthen information collection. Too often, we are left with fragmented data that makes it difficult to fully comprehend the scale of trafficking operations conducted by these armed groups. The critical role of Women’s Protection Advisors who convene the Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting on CRSV, cannot be overstated. The data collected through MARA not only ensures we have timely and accurate insight into this chronically underreported crime, but also establishes the evidence base for accountability , and to guide our programmatic I urge Member States to continue supporting existing and new deployments of these positions in all peace missions and relevant non-mission settings. Second, Member States should continue to establish comprehensive legal frameworks that protect survivors and bring perpetrators to justice. Capacities to investigate and prosecute these crimes must be enhanced. As highlighted in resolution 2331, in situations of armed conflict, it is particularly important to collect and preserve evidence to enable future accountability processes. Third, I urge the Security Council to continue to place pressure on perpetrators, as well as their commanders and backers, through the timely application of sanctions. In view of the information gaps, I also urge the Council to continue encouraging the inclusion of CRSV expertise and reporting by sanctions Panels of Experts. Furthermore, we must maximize the use of partnerships and coordination between key actors. Trafficking networks do not operate in silos, and thus neither can our responses. Lastly, but most importantly, we must place survivors at the center of our prevention and response strategies . Their insights, experiences and needs should be integral to policy formation, rehabilitation programs and the pursuit of justice. We must resource and implement comprehensive support services including medical and psychosocial care, but also family tracing and reunification, reparations and financial and livelihood assistance. Victims of trafficking and sexual violence committed by terrorist groups should be eligible for official redress as victims of terrorism. We need to also fund and empower women-led organizations working in the frontlines. Ultimately, it is not enough to address the symptoms of this issue; we must tackle its root causes – those systemic issues that perpetuate inequality, violence and exploitation. Excellencies, It would not be unrealistic to say that, at this very moment, countless women and girls are sitting in rooms very different than this one, without the ability to leave, and subject to trauma no human being should be forced to endure. Let us use this discussion to identify practical solutions for those women and girls : to close the data gaps that obscure these crimes; to strengthen the partnerships that enable effective response; and to ensure that perpetrators are held to account, including through the strategic use of sanctions. The fight against trafficking for sexual exploitation in conflict is not only about protecting the vulnerable — it is about defending human dignity, upholding the rule of law, and ultimately securing sustainable peace. Thank you.
2026-07-08 04:56:52