Pakistan is strongly demanding a rigorous international response to combat sexual violence in war zones. This demand comes seventeen years after a major UN milestone. The UN originally recognized conflict-related sexual violence as a threat to international peace and security. Now, Pakistan has called for the “full, faithful and non-selective” implementation of the Security Council resolutions, including on women, peace and security, that were aimed at fighting this crime.
Speaking in the 15-member Council, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad addressed the urgent legal responsibilities of the international body. Ahmad serves as the permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN. He stated, “these resolutions carry clear obligations to prevent, protect, investigate, prosecute and repair” in a bid to end sexual violence in conflicts.
A Critical Test of Global Commitment
The ambassador noted that meeting these exact obligations would serve as a major benchmark. He said that would be the “true test” of the Security Council’s commitment to the cause.
This powerful speech took place during a major debate convened by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC serves as the Council President for July. More than 70 international delegations participated in the session. The representatives thoroughly considered the Secretary-General’s recent report on conflict-related sexual violence. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, officially presented the document to the panel.
Unprecedented Spikes in Documented Crimes
The latest UN data paints a deeply alarming picture of modern global warfare. Covering 21 situations of concern, the report documented 9,788 cases verified by the United Nations in 2025, more than double the number recorded in 2024.
However, official numbers only show a small fraction of the actual problem. “Yet such figures can never capture the full scale and magnitude of this chronically underreported crime,” Ms. Patten, the Special Representative, said. She further added that for every case reaching a clinic, 10 to 20 were estimated to go unreported and unaddressed.
The formal mandate to track these issues was established by Council resolution 1888 (2009). This measure built directly on the Council’s earlier recognition of conflict-related sexual violence. The UN explicitly recognizes its use as a weapon and tactic of war. Furthermore, the council rejects the persistent impunity enjoyed by perpetrators.
The Long-Lasting Impact on Local Communities
In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad highlighted the severe human cost of wartime crimes. The Pakistani envoy said that conflict-related sexual violence destroyed individuals, fractures families, terrorized communities and left inter-generational wounds, including for children born of conflict-related rape.
At the same time, he stressed an important administrative point regarding global tracking. He stated that the Secretary-General’s ‘listing mechanism’, the blacklist of perpetrators, should cover all situations of conflict and foreign occupation on the Council’s agenda. The diplomat insisted that no global actor should receive special treatment.
“No situation should be shielded from scrutiny, and no perpetrator should be allowed to treat sexual violence as cost-free,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“Sanctions regimes, where applicable, should be used more effectively against persistent perpetrators, and justice processes must be designed to be more victim and survivor-centered, trauma-informed and accessible.”
A Comprehensive Framework for Survivor Support
Ambassador Asim Ahmad also underscored the need for strengthening accountability “comprehensively and consistently.” He explained that victims and survivors must receive timely and comprehensive support. This framework includes vital medical care, psycho-social assistance, legal aid, livelihood support, and proper reparations.
Furthermore, the diplomat shared a clear strategy to prevent these humanitarian crises before they start:
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Maintain strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights laws.
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Ensure the meaningful participation of women in global peace processes.
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Deploy early warning systems and secure sustained operational funding.
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Maintain responsible arms control across borders.
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Address the underlying root causes of conflict, including foreign occupation.
“Prevention must be placed at the centre of our collective response,” the Pakistani envoy said. “That requires compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law; meaningful participation of women in peace processes; early warning; sustained funding; responsible arms control; and, above all, addressing the root causes of conflict, including foreign occupation and denial of the right to self-determination.”
Concluding his address, the ambassador reminded the council of its ultimate duty to vulnerable communities. “The true test of this Council’s commitment lies in the full, faithful and non-selective implementation of its resolutions, including on women, peace and security,” he added.
