Israel, Russia among new additions on UN sexual violence ‘blacklist’

United Nations S /2026/321 Security Council Distr.: General 21 April 2026 Original: English 26 - 02226 (E) 2 8 0 5 26 *2602226* Conflict - related sexual violence Report of the Secretary - General I. Introduction 1. The present report, which covers January to December 2025, is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) , in which the Council requested me to report annually on the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008) , 1888 (2009) , 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013) , and to recommend strategic actions. The report does not make any legal determination regarding the existence of armed conflicts under international law, nor does it prejudge the legal status of any non - State actors mentioned. 2. Cases of conflict - related sexual violence verified by the United Nations in 2025 rose sharply from 2024, marked by extreme brutality, and overwhelmingly targeted women and girls. Drawing on dedicated expertise, notably women’s protection advisers, the pre sent report provides insights into the drivers and consequences of such violence. Yet, even as United Nations monitoring and response efforts continued, escalating and protracted conflicts, restricted humanitarian access and a backlash against women’s hu man rights severely constrained this work. Simultaneously, expenditure linked to rising militarization strained national budgets, while acute funding cuts to United Nations entities hollowed out assistance to survivors, shuttering women and girls’ safe spa ces and reducing services. These cuts weakened State capacity to prevent, investigate and respond to conflict - related sexual violence, eroding survivors’ trust in institutions. As resources dwindled and front - line responders faced targeted attacks by armed actors, survivors were left without life - saving support, with civilians at heightened risk of sexual violence. 3. At this pivotal moment, the strengthening of the prevention and response architecture established under the terms of Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) , which affirmed the recognition of sexual violence as a threat to international peace and security, i s essential . My Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict has continued to galvanize a global focus on the plight of survivors and mobilized United Nations system - wide support to Member States and regional organizations, guided by formal agreements and fr ameworks of cooperation, as well as through engagement with parties to conflict, in line with successive Security Council resolutions aimed at enhancing prevention and protection. 4. The term “conflict - related sexual violence”, as used in the present report, refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion,

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 2 / 35 enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls and boys, that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict. This link may become evident through the profile of th e perpetrator, who may often be affiliated with a State or non - State armed group, including those designated as terrorist groups by the Security Council; through the profile of the victim, who may frequently be an actual or perceived member of a persecuted political, ethnic and/or religious minority, or targeted on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; or through other existing circumstances, such as a climate of impunity; cross - border consequences, such as displacement or trafficking; and/or violations of the provisions of a ceasefire agreement. The term also encompasses trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual violence and/or exploitation, when committed in situations of armed conflict. It should be noted that acts of sexual exploitation and abuse that may be committed by United Nations civilian and uniformed personnel and implementing partners do not fall within the purview of this report (see A/80/644 ). 5. While many communities are affected by the threat, occurrence or legacy of conflict - related sexual violence, the present report is focused on countries and territories for which information verified by the United Nations exists. It should be read in conju nction with the 16 previous reports, which provide a cumulative basis for the listing of 77 parties (see annex). The majority of listed parties are non - State actors, several of which are under sanctions imposed by the Security Council. All parties to con flict, including non - State armed groups, are required to adopt specific, time - bound commitments and implement action plans to prevent and address sexual violence in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law and relevant Securit y Council resolutions. All State actors repeatedly listed in the annexes to the reports of the Secretary - General on conflict - related sexual violence are prohibited from participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations, in accordance with Security Co uncil resolution 2242 (2015) . The effective implementation of commitments, including accountability measures and the cessation of such violence, is a key consideration for the delisting of parties. 6. The deployment of women’s protection advisers, who advise on engagement with parties to conflict and lead the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict - related sexual violence, has been essential in ensuring the availability of timely an d accurate information on this chronically underreported crime, establishing the evidence base for response. Although their deployment is mandated by the Security Council in all resolutions relating to sexual violence and relevant country - specific resolu tions, these specialists are deployed in only 9 of the more than 20 settings covered in the report. As underscored by the Security Council in its resolution 2594 (2021) , United Nations presences require these capabilities to support protection efforts. However, in 2025, United Nations entities faced growing challenges in sustaining monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements and the retention and timely deployment of women’s protection advisers. Deployments of women’s protection advisers in non - mission settings and regional roles have served to provide support to additional geographical situations covered by the mandate. In November, during the discussions held by the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security with women’s protection advisers ( S/2025/842 , annex), participants emphasized the importance of sustainable and flexible funding for timely deployment of such specialized capacity, including to offices of resident and humanitarian coordinators, pursuant to Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) . 7. In 2025, the inter - agency network, United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a coalition of 27 member entities spanning the humanitarian - development - peacebuilding pillars, continued work to prevent and address conflict - related sexual violence. Funded solely through voluntary contributions to the conflict - related sexual

S/2026/321 3 / 35 26 - 02226 violence multi - partner trust fund, the network has implemented 66 projects across 22 conflict settings since 2008. In Ukraine, the network trained over 230 national healthcare providers, civil servants and case managers in trauma - informed care and survivor - centred approaches, as well as 264 legal aid specialists, thereby strengthening national systems and reinforcing survivors’ access to comprehensive care through survivor relief centres and rehabilitation services. In South Sudan, a joint project supported over 200 survivors across Juba, Bor, Yambio and Bentiu, combining trauma - informed counselling, economic empowerment and community - led protection mechanisms with a livelihoods programme, enabling survivors to establish income - generating activities ranging from farming to small - scale trade. To create safe transport networks connecting remote populations to life - saving medical, psychosocial and legal services, the survivor - led initiative, “ Wheels of Change ” , provided training to motorcycle taxi drivers on survivor - centred care and emergency response. At the regional level, the network convened a four - day survivor - centred action lab in the Asia - Pacific region, during which frontline responders and actors docu menting sexual violence co - created tools and identified ways to enhance survivor - centred and trauma - informed responses. At the global level, the network underscored the importance of translating global commitments into local action at the sixty - ninth sessi on of the Commission on the Status of Women, which commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. During the eightieth session of the General Assembly, the urgent needs of children born of conflic t - related rape were spotlighted, and during the twenty - fifth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, reparations were highlighted as critical to survivors. The network also advanced knowledge - building through a partnership with the European Commission, catalysing evidence - based approaches to prevention and response to con flict - related sexual violence and developing resources on intersections with emerging and persistent challenges related to technology, trafficking in persons and arms control. In 2025, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research joined the networ k to strengthen technical expertise for preventing conflict - related sexual violence through arms control and disarmament. The network continued rolling out the conflict - related sexual violence prevention framework through targeted capacity - building, includ ing the training of United Nations uniformed personnel in South Sudan, and of civil society organizations and national authorities in the Sudan. Analysis of the intersection between information and communication technologies and conflict - related sexual vio lence was deepened by examining how digital tools are weaponized to harass, threaten and exploit survivors through online hate speech. 8. In accordance with its mandate under Security Council resolution 1888 (2009) , the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict assisted national authorities in 10 Member States to strengthen rule of law institutions and advance accountability for conflict - related sexual violence. In 2025, notable progress tow ards justice for survivors was achieved in several contexts. In Colombia, at the request of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, the Team conducted four expert deployments providing tailored methodological guidance with respect to Macro Case 11 on gender - based and conflict - related sexual violence and embedding specialized capacity within the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to strengthen investigations and analysis. The Team also provided support to the Office of the Attorney General in Colombia in investigati ng conflict - related sexual violence cases falling under the jurisdiction of ordinary courts. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Team responded rapidly to increased violence in the east of the country in the context of the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23) crisis, deploying an expert in March 2025 for five months to support national authorities in - country, identifying severe disruption to the documentation of violations, protection and judicial access in areas under AFC/M23 contr ol, and supporting efforts

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 4 / 35 to preserve evidence. In Government - held areas, the Team worked with national judicial and police counterparts, assessing existing judicial responses and providing technical advice and support to authorities in Beni and Bunia, where specialized police units dedicated to preventing sexual violence transmitted 57 case files to prosecution authorities, between January and June. In Guinea, the Team continued to support national authorities following the 2024 verdicts in the trial concerning the massacre and mas s rape of 28 September 2009; delivered training to 27 magistrates from across the country; strengthened survivors’ protection and participation throughout criminal proceedings; and facilitated the inclusion of a victim - centred approach within the reparatio ns process, through which 185 victims of sexual violence were compensated on a prioritized basis. The Team conducted a first technical mission to the Syrian Arab Republic in August 2025 to engage with the Government on transitional justice options, complem ented by extensive consultations with Syrian and international civil society organizations. Two workshops were held in Damascus for the National Commission on Transitional Justice, which was established by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic followi ng the end of the previous Syrian regime, with the training aimed at ensuring the full range of transitional justice measures for conflict - related sexual violence, including criminal accountability, leading to a request by the Syrian authorities for the Te am’s support in 2026. In Ukraine, an expert embedded in the Office of the Prosecutor General continued advising on complex cases, while an international investigation expert was deployed to mentor national investigative bodies, including through training o n survivor - centred approaches provided to the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid. An advanced capacity - building series for prosecutors, investigators, judges and legal aid providers, focused on survivor - centred investigations, was launched. In 2025, the Tea m initiated the conflict - related sexual violence prosecution network, a community of practice for domestic prosecutors and practitioners advancing global justice and accountability for conflict - related sexual violence through direct knowledge exchange and the development of a database of judicial cases. Requests for technical support from Member States have continued to increase, exceeding the Team’s capacity and budgetary resources. II. Sexual violence, including as a tactic of war and terrorism: patterns, trends and emerging concerns 9. In 2025, documented cases of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression surged, while multiple and overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises worsened. Civilians were targeted with rape, gang rape, abducti ons and sexual slavery by State and non - State actors. Amid escalating and prolonged conflict, these violations drove displacement, terrorized populations and destabilized communities, and were often linked to broader strategic objectives. Non - State armed groups, including organized criminal groups, entities under sanctions enacted by the Security Council and transnational criminal networks, used sexual violence as a tactic to gain territorial control, including over lucrative natural resource sites, parti cularly in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Abduction, forced marriage, trafficking and kidnapping were used as part of the strategic objectives and ideology of certain groups, including those listed by the Security Co uncil Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) , 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al - Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, both to incentivize recruitment of fighters and to garner illicit resources, feeding into the political economy of war. In the context of movement controls and checkpoints, rape, gang rap e and abductions for the purposes of sexual slavery were perpetrated along

S/2026/321 5 / 35 26 - 02226 roads and in and around agricultural zones. In attempts to regain territory, Government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo partnered or associated with local defence groups, while militia fought alongside de facto authorities in Myanmar. This c omplex array of battlefield actors, implicated in patterns of sexual violence, complicated attribution of responsibility and undermined accountability. Against this backdrop, in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, the Sudan and elsewhere, women and girls perceived to be associated with rival groups were targeted with sexual violence. In the Sudan, women and girls were targeted on the basis of ethnicity, as explicitly stated by perpetrators during attacks. In South Sudan, the delayed implementation of political and peace agreements eroded local security arrangements, in turn heightening risks of sexual violence. Political instability, economic hardship, institutional collapse and insecurity amplified the long - standing barriers to survivors seeking to r eport and gain access to services, including stigma and fear of retaliation. In many situations, in the absence of protection or services, victims do not easily disclose their experiences, leading to cases being grossly underreported. Threats and attacks a gainst humanitarian workers, United Nations personnel and human rights defenders increased. Organizations supporting survivors and witnesses were also targeted. Armed actors attacked judicial institutions and healthcare facilities, while humanitarian acces s was curtailed, limiting the provision of life - saving services, including sexual and reproductive healthcare. At the same time, threats made through the digital sphere, including misogynistic hate speech and incitement to violence, curtailed the work of w omen human rights defenders. Internet shutdowns in Afghanistan and Internet restrictions in Myanmar impeded the ability of survivors to gain access to information , including on referral pathways leading to life - saving services. Amid shrinking operational space for service provision and waning donor support, the number of cases verified by the United Nations and recorded by humanitarian service providers in the present report is considered a conservative est imate of global trends. Therefore, while the present report conveys the patterns, severity and brutality of cases, it does not purport to reflect the global scale and prevalence of these crimes. 10. Sexual violence and exploitation in the context of abduction and trafficking in persons, including by armed groups and entities under sanctions enacted by the Security Council, continued to be observed as a tactic of terrorism. Abduction and sexual violen ce formed part of a broader pattern of attacks by armed groups in remote areas in Burkina Faso, Mali and northern Mozambique, with girls as young as 11 forced into sexual slavery and repeated rapes in captivity, leading to unwanted pregnancies. Jama’at Nusrat ul - Islam wa al - Muslimin perpetrated rape, including the rape of at least 100 women and girls, and other forms of sexual violence in remote areas in Burkina Faso and Mali. Amid the widespread availability and proliferation of small arms and light wea pons, organized criminal groups in Colombia and Haiti perpetrated trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. In Colombia, trafficking in persons has particularly affected Afro - Colombian communities, Indigenous Peoples, rural communities and Venez uelan refugees and migrants. Repeated rapes while held in captivity by armed groups led to unwanted pregnancies. In South Sudan, abduction and sexual slavery continued to be used as collective punishment of rival communities, provoking displacement. The Sp ecial Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, has underscored that conflict, displacement and movements of refugees increased the risks of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and child marriage. Women and childr en being held in displacement camps, such as in Syrian territory formerly under the control of Kurdish - led authorities, and who had previously been trafficked and/or were stateless, and Rohingya refugees who remained stateless and without refugee status in several host States (see A/80/166 ), were particularly vulnerable.

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 6 / 35 11. Displaced, refugee and migrant women and girls faced elevated risks of sexual violence in most settings covered in the present report. In South Sudan, survivors were raped during repeated displacement, and later abducted while fleeing. Upon return, they w ere often rejected by their communities, exacerbating the risks of further violations. In the Central African Republic, women and girls displaced within Vakaga Prefecture faced risks of attack, owing to the presence of armed groups and the spillover eff ects of war, including incursions by the Rapid Support Forces of the Sudan. Armed hostilities and climate - related challenges propelled displacement, heightening risks of sexual violence, including in Cameroon, Nigeria and Somalia. In all settings, displace d survivors faced legal and protection barriers to accessing services, difficulties that were exacerbated in remote and border areas where women and girls lacked community networks. With a high concentration of survivors, these sites presented protection r isks, such as in Myanmar, where those exercising authority reportedly sexually exploited survivors in exchange for shelter or safety, and targeted women - headed households. In the Sudan, many women and girls fleeing the conflict only sought help after reach ing neighbouring countries, which underscores the importance of assistance in all phases of displacement (see A/HRC/60/CRP.7). 12. Sexual violence was perpetrated in detention in multiple settings, such as in Israel and the State of Palestine, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In Myanmar, patterns of sexual violence continued to be used in detention settings as part of the repertoi re of political violence to intimidate and punish opponents. In several settings, humanitarian access to detention sites remained constrained or blocked. In Libya, access constraints raised protection concerns, particularly regarding refugees and migran ts, with verified cases of rape and sexual exploitation perpetrated in official and unofficial detention centres. In the Syrian Arab Republic, following the release of thousands of detainees, clearer patterns of sexual violence in detention facilities form erly under the control of the previous Syrian regime emerged, whereby detainees as young as 11 years old were subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence, including as a form of torture. Detainees were raped with objects, forced to rape other deta inees and in some cases were raped in front of their children, who were also detained. Men and boys often face barriers to accessing support due to stigma and limited services for male survivors, and women released from detention face further risks of violence from family members owing to assumptions that they were raped. 13. Survivors of conflict - related sexual violence are not a homogenous group, hence the need for a survivor - centred approach to address specific contexts and individual needs. Victims, including persons with disabilities, ranged in age from 1 to 70 years old. Other forms of extreme physical violence often accompanied sexual violence, resulting in debilitating or lethal injuries, including from the insertion of objects into the bodies of victims. Reports persisted of summary executions of victims after rape, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar. Cases of suicide among victims were recorded in Afghanistan and Myanmar. In Colombia, Nigeria and the Sudan, women and girls from minority and marginalized communities were at heightened risk of sexual violence. Conflict - related rape resulted in sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and unwanted pregnancies were recorded, for instance, in the context of abduction and sexual slavery in South Sudan, with survivors and their children generally exc luded from socioeconomic networks and facing discrimination. In 2025, digital technologies and platforms were used by perpetrators to preserve images of sexual assault in order to extort or further humiliate victims, as in Haiti and South Sudan. While wome n and girls continued to constitute the vast majority of victims, men and boys were also affected. Most of the reported incidents perpetrated against men and boys occurred in detention and included rape and electrocution or beating of genitals. Male surviv ors tend to refrain from speaking about sexual violence and instead refer to torture, which has the consequence of

S/2026/321 7 / 35 26 - 02226 narrowing their access to specialized services. LGBTQI+ persons were at acute risk of sexual violence, in particular in detention settings. These varied manifestations of sexual violence and diversity of survivors require tailored responses, with survivor networks continuing to advocate for their rights and needs. 14. Impunity for conflict - related sexual violence persisted in 2025. Escalating conflict and lack of political will hindered accountability efforts, with armed actors attacking justice institutions, while the presence of judicial actors in most conflict - affec ted areas remained limited. In Guinea, the presidential pardon granted in March 2025 to the former President, Moussa Dadis Camara, who had been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the stadium massacre in 2009 during which se xual violence was perpetrated, raised concerns among victims regarding their safety, particularly given the lack of adequate protective measures to safeguard their court testimonies. In many situations covered by the present report, challenges in accessing the formal justice system persisted, owing to a fear of reprisals, the lack of legal aid and the need to travel long distances to reach competent authorities. In some instances, the lack of formal accountability processes resulted in recourse to customary justice mechanisms, which often prioritize family honour over victims’ rights. In terms of international criminal justice, the States Members of the Confederation of Sahel States issued a statement in September announcing their immediate withdrawal from t he Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, amid the Court’s investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali, including rape and sexual slavery, for which an arrest warrant has been issued against the founder and leader of Ansar Eddine. Nonetheless, progress was noted in some transitional and reparative justice processes, such as in the Syrian Arab Republic, where a National Commission on Transitional Justice was established by the Government (see para. 8). Under the Law on Support to Female Yazidi Survivors in Iraq, 2,587 applications for compensation were approved with 1,341 for Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak and Christian survivors of sexual violence. In Colombia, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace delivered three landmark con victions for command responsibility for sexual violence in Macro Case 1. 15. Overall, the level of compliance by parties to conflict with applicable international norms remained low, despite the robust framework put in place by the Security Council through its resolutions 1888 (2009) , 1960 (2010) , 2106 (2013) , 2331 (2016) and 2467 (2019) . Over 65 per cent of the parties listed in the annex to the present report are persistent perpetrators, appearing in the annex for five or more years without taking remedial or corrective action. Consistent consideration by Security Council sanctions comm ittees of persistent perpetrators listed in the annex to the present report, in the context of the Council’s designations of sanctions against individuals and entities, is key to improving compliance with obligations under customary and conventional intern ational law and relevant Security Council resolutions. Currently, eight country - specific sanctions regimes include sexual violence as a basis for designation. Acts involving sexual violence, when used as a tactic of terrorism, may be grounds for designatio n by the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) , 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al - Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities (see resolution 2734 (2024) ). In 2025, sexual violence, inter alia, was the basis for designation of one entity on the Haiti sanctions list (Gran Grif). Security Council expert monitoring groups continue to play a critical role in identifying perpetrators of sexual violence and making recommendations regarding their designation for sanctions.

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 8 / 35 III. Sexual violence in conflict - affected settings Afghanistan 16. The Taliban de facto authorities pursued repressive policies against Afghan women and girls, in a context marked by acute humanitarian needs and impunity, resulting from decades of conflict. In 2025, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UN AMA) verified incidents of sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, forced marriage and forced nudity, perpetrated against 15 women and 6 girls, attributed to de facto officials, including de facto security forces. Despite the ban on forced marriage dec reed in 2021, the de facto authorities were implicated in both perpetrating and upholding forced marriages. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan reported that women who challenge or protest the Taliban de facto authorities ’ gender policies have faced arbitrary detention, and detainees have been subjected to torture and ill - treatment, including sexual violence (see A/HRC/59/25 ). 17. Front - line providers continued to deliver case management and legal assistance, while the overall availability of services was significantly curtailed by funding gaps, in addition to restrictions on the movements of women humanitarian workers and on the t ype of work they can undertake. As of July 2025, over 400 health facilities had closed, along with hundreds of service points for responding to gender - based violence that were supported by the United Nations (see A/80/366 ). Moreover, the de facto authorities have prevented Afghan women, including United Nations personnel, from accessing the Organization’s premises, further constraining service provision. 18. In the four years since the dismantling of laws and specialized courts focused on women’s rights (see A/HRC/59/25 ), there remained a lack of clarity on the applicable framework for women’s access to justice and complaints of gender - based violence, which are largely handled by male officials. Over the past two decades, victims have requested acknowledgement and compen sation for harms caused, guarantees of non - recurrence and criminal prosecutions (see A/HRC/60/23 ). In October 2025, an Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan was established by the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 60/2 , tasked with collecting and analysing evidence of international crimes and the most serious violations of international law, including those committed against women and girls. Recommendation 19. I call upon the de facto authorities to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence, reverse all laws, policies and practices that restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, and comply with the international obligations of Af ghanistan and relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2681 (2023) . I also call upon the de facto authorities to reverse the ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations and non - governmental organizations. Central African Republic 20. In the context of military operations and incursions by armed groups in the eastern and western areas of the country, attacks against civilians continued, including incidents of sexual violence. The centre region registered an overall decline in security i ncidents amid the ongoing disarmament and demobilization of elements of Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation (3R) and Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC) following the official return of these groups to the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconcili ation in the Central African Republic, of 2019, pursuant to the agreement signed on 19 April in N’Djamena (see S/2025/638 ). Chronic underreporting of sexual violence persisted, especially in remote and conflict - affected areas, while

S/2026/321 9 / 35 26 - 02226 reduced humanitarian funding resulted in an over 70 per cent decrease in gender - based violence services covering the 65 localities outlined in the humanitarian response plan. In 2025, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) documented cases of conflict - related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, forced marriage and sexual slavery, affecting 239 women, 217 girls, 30 men and 1 boy, implicating elements of UPC and 3R, as well as mem bers of other factions of the Coalition des patriotes pour le changement. Members of the national defence and security forces, including the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic, were implicated in 79 cases. Other security personnel were also impli cated. 21. In the Yade region, 3R targeted women and girls engaged in livelihood activities. Members of the group continued to commit rape and gang rape pending the start of disarmament and demobilization. In Haut - Mbomou, members of Azande Ani Kpi Gbe continued to p erpetrate sexual violence, including gang rape. In the Vakaga region, amid incursions, cases of rape were attributed to elements of the Rapid Support Forces, a party to the conflict in the Sudan. Humanitarian service providers further registered 10,385 cases of sexual violence that were reportedly perpetrated by armed groups and another 1,978 cases perpetrated by national defence and security forces. 22. The Government strengthened the national policy framework by adopting the third national action plan (2026 – 2030) on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) , although the implementation of the national action plan to prevent and respond to gender - based violence linked to conflict (2024 – 2028) remained limited. The Courts of Appeals in Bangui and Bouar held criminal sessions for 23 cases of sexual violence in camera in order to protect the identity of victims and witnesses, with the support of MINUSCA. Gaps persisted in disarmament and dem obilization, including the absence of specific provisions on women’s participation in the N’Djamena agreement. Overall progress towards accountability and addressing conflict - related sexual violence remained limited. Recommendation 23. I welcome progress made in the implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation and urge all parties to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence. I reiterate my call upon the authorities to accelerate the implementation of the 2 019 joint communiqué, including the adoption of the action plan for the armed forces, the allocation of resources to the joint rapid response unit to prevent sexual violence against women and children, and the strengthening of accountability measures. Colombia 24. In 2025, the security situation worsened in certain regions amid disputes between non - State armed groups over illicit economies and continued hostilities between these actors and the national armed forces, exposing women and girls to conflict - related sexu al violence. Access to territories under the control of armed groups was further constrained, exacerbating humanitarian needs. Nine years after the signing by the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo (FARC - E P) of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace, the implementation of the gender - related provisions of that Agreement remained limited. 25. Underreporting of sexual violence persisted, owing to the fear of reprisals against survivors, along with a mistrust of institutions, which was further compounded by linguistic and accessibility barriers, which particularly affected Indigenous women, chil dren and women with disabilities. Despite these challenges, the National Victims’ Unit recorded cases of conflict - related sexual violence that

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 10 / 35 affected 4,113 people; 753 of these occurred in 2025, with the remainder occurring in previous years. The majority of victims were young women and girls. Women leaders and human rights defenders, as well as persons with disabilities, were also affected. Al though Black, Afro - Colombian communities and Indigenous Peoples make up about 15 per cent of the population of Colombia, they account for 31 per cent of recorded violations. In over half of reported cases, the perpetrator remained unidentified, while guerr illa groups were identified in 27.4 per cent of cases. The National Public Health Surveillance System registered 276 cases of alleged conflict - related sexual violence, with half of these cases perpetrated against children under the age of 14 years. Forensi c evidence was collected in less than 10 per cent of cases. In 10 early warnings, the Office of the Ombudsperson identified risks of sexual violence associated with armed conflict and organized crime, with women, children and young migrants at greatest ris k. Displaced and migrant women and girls were at heightened risk of trafficking, particularly in border areas, along migrant transit routes and in territories affected by illicit economies, including drug trafficking, mining and smuggling. Reports by the O ffice of the Ombudsperson showed that human trafficking is interlinked with other violations, including sexual slavery, kidnapping and forced marriage. In 2025, the United Nations recorded cases of sexual violence against 22 women and 3 girls. Violations w ere perpetrated in the context of enforcement of social and territorial control by armed groups. To instil fear, particularly in areas controlled by armed actors, sexually explicit images were disseminated via technology and social media. Alleged perpetrat ors were members of non - State armed groups, national and transnational criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua. Members of the national armed forces were also allegedly implicated. 26. In 2025, the Government formally established a monitoring and follow - up committee to review the implementation of the women and peace and security national action plan, though the committee is not yet operationalized. The armed forces issued directives to establish a zero - tolerance policy on sexual and gender - based violence and to deploy gender advisers in military operations. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace delivered three convictions for command responsibility for sexual violence in Macro Case 1 an d continued investigations into conflict - related sexual violence across eight macro cases. Protective measures were established with respect to sensitive information in Macro Case 11 on conflict - related sexual and gender - based violence, and as part of an a ccreditation campaign, 938 women and 104 men were registered as victims. Threats were issued against women - led and women’s rights organizations that support victims of sexual violence. The Office of the Attorney General strengthened the investigation and p rosecution of conflict - related sexual violence crimes through strategic prioritization of cases and contextual analyses of large - scale organized crimes with a gender perspective. While the National Victims’ Unit awarded administrative reparations to 1,169 individuals and provided assistance to 908 survivors, resource constraints resulted in significant gaps in multisectoral support, which affected the continuity of shelters and reduced the number of technical and monitoring personnel, in turn constraining n ational and local capacity to respond to conflict - related sexual violence. Recommendation 27. I urge the Government to accelerate the implementation of the gender - related provisions of the Final Peace Agreement and of the national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) in consultation with survivors and women - led organizations. I call upon the Government to institutionalize cooperation with my Special Representative through the signing of a framework of cooperation on addressing sexual violence. I call upon the ordinary and transitional justice entities in

S/2026/321 11 / 35 26 - 02226 Colombia to improve access to justice for survivors , including by strengthening coordinated investigations . Democratic Republic of the Congo 28. In 2025, reports of sexual violence emerged amid escalating hostilities between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and multiple armed groups, including during the intensified offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by M 23 with the “direct support and participation of the Rwanda Defence Forces” (see Security Council resolution 2773 (2025) ). Reports of sexual violence also surfaced after the capture of Uvira by M23 elements in December 2025. Across North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema and Tanganyika Provinces, between January and September, service providers registered 90,199 cases of sex ual violence, including rape, mainly perpetrated by armed actors. 29. The breakdown in law enforcement institutions, fear of reprisals, and acute access and security constraints, particularly in areas controlled by AFC/M23 (see S/2025/176 ), narrowed the already limited operating space for human rights monitors to document conflict - related sexual violence. Nevertheless, in 2025, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) verified 1,53 4 cases of conflict - related sexual violence, an 86 per cent increase from 2024. Cases included rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage, often as a form of torture and apparent reprisal, accompanied by other forms of extreme physical violence, an d affected 854 wom en, 6 72 girls, 4 men and 4 boys, with survivors as young as 1 year old. Some 1,229 cases were attributed to non - State armed groups; 32 cases occurred in previous years. Among over 5 million displaced civilians (see S/2025/590 ), facing severe shortages of basic humanitarian needs, women and girls were particularly at risk of sexual violence. Some 30 5 cases were attributed to State actors, of which 285 implicated the Armed Forces – a 60 per cent increase from 2024 – and 4 implicated other State actors. Armed Forces personnel were implicated in cases of rape, gang rape and forced marriage, resulting in forced pregnancy and death, in Ituri, and in cases of rape in the context of looting during their withdrawal from the frontline in South Kivu. The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces were imp licated in seven cases, and the Burundi National Defence Force in two. The trendline of documented cases of sexual violence committed by the Congolese National Police has decreased over the past five years, with seven documented cases in 2025. 30. Armed groups used sexual violence to assert territorial control and subjugate communities. Documented cases implicating M23, including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, rose from 152 in 2024 to 439 in 2025. M23 elements perpetrated sexual violence again st civilians perceived to be affiliated with the Armed Forces and armed groups operating under the label of Wazalendo. Violations implicating M23 occurred in detention and during cordon - and - search operations, affecting women, girls, men and boys, as wel l as LGBT individuals (see A/HRC/60/80 ), along with civil society actors (see S/2025/590 ). While the multiplicity of armed actors complicated attribution, in North Kivu and South Kivu, cases of sexual violence affecting 60 women and 17 girls were attributed to armed groups operating under the Wazalendo label. In Ituri, attacks against civilians included conflict - related sexual violence, implicating Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (141), Zaïre militia and Force de résistance patriotique de l ’ Ituri (11). In Ituri and North Kivu, 25 cases implicating the Allied Democratic Forces during incursions on villages and farms included gang rape, abduction and sexual slavery of women and girls, including through forced marriages with combatants, often accompanied by the execution of victims’ relatives. In South K ivu, Twirwaneho elements were implicated in 64 cases,

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 12 / 35 Résistance pour un État de droit au Burundi (RED Tabara) elements in 60 cases and Forces nationales de libération in 15 cases. 31. Targeted attacks and looting of medical facilities and prolonged closures of Goma and Kavumu airports caused critical supply shortages, including of post - rape kits. Attacks on judicial and correctional facilities destroyed case files related to conflict - r elated sexual violence (see S/2025/176 ), while mass prison escapes in Goma, Bukavu, Kabare, Uvira and Kalemie enabled perpetrators convicted of sexual violence crimes, including armed group commanders, to flee, thereby aggravating protection risks for victims and witnesses. Military judges con victed 35 members of the Armed Forces and three armed group elements for sexual slavery and rape, including in captivity. Following the visit of my Special Representative in July, the Government adopted separate road maps for the army and police to address sexual violence. Pursuant to the groundbreaking reparations law of 2022, reparations, funded through resources from the mining sector, were disbursed to 10 victims of conflict - related sexual violence, in accordance with court decisions in Ituri, and inter im reparations, including medical assistance, psychosocial support and livelihood training, were provided to 45,095 survivors of sexual violence living in refugee camps. Furthermore, 1,052 children born of rape had their civil status registered and nationa lity recognized. Recommendation 32. I call upon parties to conflict to cease all acts of conflict - related sexual violence and ensure the inclusion of prevention and response measures in all mediation and peace processes. I commend the substantive progress in delivering reparations to surviv ors in accordance with domestic court decisions. I welcome the development of dedicated road maps for the police and army in the framework of the 2019 addendum to the joint communiqué and call for their swift implementation. I urge the authorities to in tensify their efforts to ensure that all perpetrators, regardless of rank or affiliation, are held accountable for conflict - related sexual violence and to offer assistance and redress measures for survivors. Israel and the State of Palestine 1 33. In 2025, following two ceasefire deals that resulted in the release of over 50 hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, six hostages made public allegations of sexual violence. One female hostage released during the ceasefire in J anuary 2025 made allegations of multiple instances of sexual violence. In March 2025, two female hostages who had been released in 2023 also reported sexual violence. Three male hostages released in October 2025 following the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict made further allegations of sexual violence. The United Nations was not able to verify any of these reports, given the continued denial of access by the Government of Israel to competent United Nations bodies to carry out investigations. 34. With regard to accountability for the attacks of 7 October 2023, since its listing in the annex to the previous report ( S/2025/389 ), Hamas has not recognized any incidents of sexual violence and has not made commitments or taken measures to address violations related to sexual violence, including holding alleged perpetrators accountable. Furthermore, the United Nations has not as yet received information on __________________ 1 For the purposes of the present report, the present section provides information on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which encompasses the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, as well as in Israel.

S/2026/321 13 / 35 26 - 02226 indictments by the authorities in Israel for charges of sexual violence against detained Palestinians accused of involvement in the attacks. 35. In 2025, patterns of sexual violence against Palestinians detained in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory continued to be documented. The cases verified by the United Nations should be seen as indicative of incidents and patterns over multiple r eporting periods rather than comprehensive, given the continued denial of access by the Government of Israel to detention settings, as well as to Gaza. Challenges to reporting sexual violence persisted, due to, inter alia, explicit threats made by Israe li armed and security forces coercing detainees not to report abuse. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), while the Comprehensive Plan resulted in the release of 1,968 Palestinians detained by the Israel i authorities, over 9,000 remained in detention, including over 4,000 detained without charges or trial or administratively detained, raising concerns of arbitrary detention. In 2025, the United Nations verified multiple incidents of conflict - related sexua l violence, including as a form of torture, inflicted against 14 men, 7 women, 9 boys and 1 girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Thirteen of these cases occurred in 2025, and 18 in 2023 and 2024. Violations consisted of rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targe ted shooting of the genitals, touching of breasts and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, forced nudity and threats of rape. Rape and gang rape, in some cases repeated, were perpetrated against nine victims, the majority from Gaza. Perpetrators included Israeli armed and security forces, namely the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Prison Service, including the Keter special forces, and the Police Counter - Terrorism Unit (Yamam). These violations occurred primarily during detention and interrogation and across several sites, including military camps (Sde Teiman, Etzion detention centre, Majn unah camp and an unidentified base); Israel Prison Service facilities (Megiddo, Ofer, Ramla, Hasharon, Shatta, Nafha and Damon); and at an Israeli police station (Gush Etzion police station). In addition, violations were perpetrated at checkpoints and during Israeli military operations in the Occup ied Palestinian Territory. Survivors included journalists and human rights defenders. Most cases involved multiple forms of sexual violence used simultaneously and, in some cases, the violations were filmed or photographed, including one case of rape. Sexu al violence against female detainees included mostly threats of rape, forced nudity, unwanted touching, and humiliating or degrading strip searches without justification, while men and boys were targeted with rape, attempted rape and violence to the genita ls, resulting in five male victims suffering severe rectal bleeding or swelling for multiple days or weeks and, in some cases , without receiving medical treatment. The long - term effects of sexual violence on detainees released back to Gaza were further com pounded by dire living conditions (see A/HRC/60/CRP.3). Moreover, due to the humanitarian disaster and repeated mass displacements caused by the conflict (see A/HRC/58/28 ), women and girls in Gaza continue to be exposed to heightened risks of sexual violence. 36. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as United Nations entities, have consistently documented a systematic lack of accountability (see A/HRC/50/21 , A/HRC/52/75 , A/79/232 , A/HRC/58/28 and A/HRC/58/CRP.6) for violations against Palestinians, perpetuating a climate of impunity. On 19 February 2025, five reserve soldiers belonging to Unit 100 of the Israel Defense Forces were indicted for severe physical assault that occurred in Sde Teima n military camp in July 2024. According to the Commission of Inquiry, despite available evidence, including video and medical reports and a detailed description of the assault which reportedly included insertion of an object in the anus resulting in severe injuries to the rectum, a charge of sexual violence or rape was absent from the indictment (A/HRC/58/CRP.6).

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 14 / 35 In March 2026, all charges were dropped. These developments risk reinforcing a climate of impunity that may enable the commission of conflict - related sexual violence. 37. Following the notice of potential listing of Israeli armed and security forces ( S/2025/389 , appendix), my Special Representative continued to engage with the Government of Israel and civil society. However, information related to compliance with the concrete measures set out in Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) has not been provided. To date, the Government of Israel has not granted access to competent United Nations entities for monitoring, while the provision of services and humanitarian assistance remains severely restricted. My Special Representative also co ntinued to engage with the Palestinian Authority on support to survivors. Recommendation 38. I reiterate my call to the Government of Israel to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence, implement time - bound commitments to address and prevent sexual violence, as outlined in Security Council resolutions 1960 (2010) , 2106 (2013) and 2467 (2019) , and to grant unfettered access to relevant United Nations bodies to conduct investigations into all alleged violations, including conflict - related sexual violence. 39. I continue to call for accountability with due process of law for sexual violence crimes committed during the attacks of 7 October and in their aftermath and call upon Hamas to adopt measures to address sexual violence. 40. I urge the Government of Israel to ensure that Palestinian prisoners are treated in a dignified way and to investigate and prosecute all allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. Libya 41. Amid pervasive insecurity and the illicit flow of arms, transnational traffickers and armed groups continued to perpetrate sexual violence, including rape and sexual slavery with impunity, primarily against migrants, refugees and internally displaced pers ons. In 2025, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) verified conflict - related sexual violence that had been perpetrated against 45 migrant and refugee women and girls. Victims who were abducted, arbitrarily detained and/or trafficked were subjected to sexual violence, including rape and sexual exploitation, often alongside other violations such as torture and ransom demands imposed as a condition for their release. Violations took place in illegal detention and temporary sites across Libya operated by trafficking networks and armed groups affiliated with the Libyan National Army. 42. At least six unofficial detention centres operated by armed groups, where sexual violence is reported to have occurred, remain inaccessible to the United Nations and are estimated to hold over 3,000 detainees (see S/2025/509 ). In eastern Libya, the United Nations continued to receive reports of arbitrary detention in facilities operated by the Libyan National Army and the eastern Internal Security Agency, including Gernada and Kuwayfiyah (see S/2025/509 ). In these facilities, patterns of sexual violence have been reported since 2017 (see S/2025/389 , S/2018/250 and A/HRC/52/83 ). In 2025, UNSMIL verified cases of conflict - related sexual violence, including as a form of torture, against four men . Cases were perpetrated in eastern Libya by the “166 Battalion”. The remaining implicated “Katiba 55 Mushat”, in western Libya. 43. In January 2025, the Pre - Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Osama Elmasry Njeem, a member of the Deterrence Agency for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime, including for the war crimes and crimes against humanity of rape and sexual violence committed at Mitiga prison since 2015. As of December 2025, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, an alleged former

S/2026/321 15 / 35 26 - 02226 senior official at Mitiga prison, is in the custody of the Court following an arrest warrant issued in July 2025, including for war crimes and crimes against humanity of rape and sexual violence committed between 2015 and 2020. Since 2017, patterns of sexu al violence have been consistently documented in detention facilities, including Mitiga, under the control of the Deterrence Agency (see S/2018/250 ). Sexual violence against migrants also occurred in official and unofficial sites reportedly managed by high - ranking officials under the overall authority of the Ministry of Interior, including the Department for Combating Illegal Migration. 44. While the Government of National Unity took initial measures to address violations linked to trafficking and detention, these efforts have not yet sufficiently mitigated broader structural challenges. In 2025, the Office of the Attorney General released s everal individuals who had been subjected to sexual violence, as verified by UNSMIL, from Mitiga prison. However, due to the fear of reprisals, no official complaints were lodged. In February 2025, anti - trafficking raids by the Libyan authorities led to the transfer of 344 migrants from trafficking hubs to detention facilities under the purview of the Department for Combating Illegal Migration, from where reports of sexual violence have emerged (see A/HRC/60/82 ). In May, the Prime Minister issued a decree dissolving the Department, leading to the closure of all official detention centres in Tripoli and the release of detainees, while in Tajura’ and eastern Libya, detention facilities continued to operate. At the same time, the decree established a new General Administration for Combating Illegal Migration under the Ministry of Interior and transferred the responsibilities, assets and same personnel from the Department to the new entity (see S/2025/509 ). To date, there are no indications of structural reforms accompanying these changes. To address these concerns, in 2025, Libyan authorities engaged constructively with my Special Representative regarding measures outlined in successive Security Council resolutions. Recommendation 45. I reiterate my call upon the Libyan authorities to grant unrestricted humanitarian access for the United Nations to all prisons, detention centres and migrant and refugee disembarkation points. I call upon the authorities to conduct independent impartial i nvestigations and prosecute conflict - related sexual violence as part of security sector reform and reconciliation efforts. I further call for the adoption of legislation on anti - trafficking measures and the draft law on protection of women from violence. Mali 46. Insecurity related to military operations, along with armed groups in northern and central Mali expanding their influence in western and southern regions, exacerbated the risks of conflict - related sexual violence, particularly in remote areas. By October, funding cuts, escalating violence and movement restrictions imposed by armed groups, including those under sanctions enacted by the Security Council, had disrupted humanitarian assistance and services. Against this backdrop, in 2025, as part of the mon itoring of grave violations against children, the United Nations verified cases of sexual violence affecting 22 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 years, perpetrated by armed groups, such as Jama‘a Nusrat ul - Islam wa al - Muslimin and Islamic State Sahel Pr ovince. In addition, humanitarian service providers registered cases of rape, sexual slavery, sexual assault and other forms of conflict - related sexual violence, affecting 45 women and 16 girls, including 6 persons with disabilities. Perpetrators were memb ers of non - State armed groups, including Groupe d ’ autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs allies (GATIA), Mouvement national de libération de l ’ Azawad (MNLA), dozo traditional hunters and unidentified armed actors. Violations often occurred in the context of systematic abductions of women and girls while undertaking livelihood activities.

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 16 / 35 47. Persistent underreporting was aggravated by the limited availability of services: 72 per cent of localities in northern and central Mali lacked services for survivors as a result of funding cuts, while at least 45 per cent of services delivered by local n on - governmental organizations were disrupted, amid threats and attacks against front - line workers, in particular in Gao, Timbuktu, Mopti and Ménaka. Despite these challenges, the United Nations and its partners continued to support one - stop centres that deliver multisectoral services and safe spaces that offer psychosocial and economic assistance in the Gao, Mopti, Ségou and Timbuktu Regions. Furthermore, the National Charter for Peace and Reconciliation in August, which was endorsed following national c onsultations, includes a provision for the holistic care of victims of sexual violence as part of the national security approach. 48. Access to justice for survivors remains an ongoing challenge, mainly due to the limited presence of judicial institutions across conflict - affected areas in northern and central regions, thereby hindering survivors’ access to the Specialized Judicial Unit to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, which, since 2019, has dealt with war crimes under international law, including conflict - related sexual violence. The emblematic cases of conflict - related sexual violence committed in northern Mali in 2012 and 2013 (see A/HRC/58/79 ) remained pending before the courts. While the establishment of successor bodies to the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission was a sign of progress with regard to reparations, the publication of the final report of the Commission, purportedly fina lized in December 2022, is considered an important step in the reconciliation process. Recommendation 49. I reiterate my call upon the transitional authorities to accelerate the implementation of the 2019 joint communiqué and to investigate and prosecute conflict - related sexual violence. I urge the transitional authorities to ensure survivors’ access to prote ction and services in conflict - affected areas and to implement legislation on reparations and redress, allocate adequate resources and fully operationalize the successor bodies to the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. I urge donors to fund s ervices for survivors and the deployment of women’s protection advisers to the United Nations country team. Myanmar 50. In 2025, amid escalating conflict, severe economic hardship and mass displacement, reports of conflict - related sexual violence perpetrated predominantly by the Myanmar military against women, men, girls and boys and against LGBTQI persons continued to emer ge. Following the earthquakes in March 2025, women and girls faced increased risks of sexual violence in overcrowded temporary shelters. 51. The widespread and systematic use of sexual violence as a tactic of war and political repression by the Myanmar military persisted. The Myanmar military, including related forces and affiliated militias, including Pyu Saw Htee, targeted individuals due to their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or perceived political affiliation. Documented violations included rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, perpetrated during ground operations, in detention, village raids a nd at checkpoints, as well as in homes, fields and forests. In central Myanmar, the military reportedly subjected women and girls, including persons with disabilities, to rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, often in their homes or within military bases. Vi ctims suffered severe physical and psychological harm, including unwanted pregnancies, and some reportedly committed suicide. These acts contributed to widespread trauma, unravelled family ties and heightened fear within affected communities. In north - west Myanmar, reports emerged of sexual violence

S/2026/321 17 / 35 26 - 02226 perpetrated by the Arakan Army, including rape. In June, up to 25 women were reportedly raped by the military during raids in central Myanmar (see A/80/490 ). As violence continued in Rakhine State, reports emerged of sexual violence against Rohingya women and girls (see A/80/307 ), perpetrated by the military and the Arakan Army. Armed groups that oppose the military, including people’s defence forces and ethnic armed organizations, were also reportedly implicated in perpetrating sexual violence against civilians (see A/80/490 ) and against women and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities serving in their ranks. 52. The collapse of the formal justice system prevented survivors from accessing legal remedies, resulting in reliance, in some areas, on traditional justice, which led to economic compensations, instead of adequate sanctions. Mandatory conscription by the mi litary raised serious concerns, including of sexual violence, which were also linked to exemptions for married women reportedly increasing the risks of forced marriage and trafficking of women and girls. 53. Survivors faced death threats and risks of retaliation in seeking services, while the range of services remained severely constrained due to shortages of trained providers, supply disruptions, facility closures, movement restrictions and aid blockages. Li mited access to emergency contraception, post - exposure prophylaxis and safe abortion care heightened the risks of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Service providers were threatened with violence by armed actors an d frequently forced to keep a low profile, relocate or suspend operations. Moreover, funding cuts in 2025 significantly undermined local actors’ capacity to deliver essential health and safe shelter services and to document sexual violence. Supporters of t he military and affiliated forces continued to target women and activists online, particularly those associated with the resistance movement, making sexually explicit threats in order to silence them. 54. Displaced survivors in neighbouring countries faced legal and protection barriers to accessing services, while in displacement sites in Myanmar, those exercising local authority reportedly sexually exploited displaced civilians in exchange for shelter or safety, targeting women - headed households. Over 1 million Rohingya refugees continued to reside in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where diminishing humanitarian aid and a worsening security situation exposed women and children to severe risks of human traffic king, forced marriage and other forms of sexual violence. Recommendation 55. I urge the Myanmar military and all armed groups to: fully implement Security Council resolution 2669 (2022) ; immediately cease all acts of sexual violence in accordance with their obligations under international law; release all arbitrarily detained prisoners; hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable; and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access t o all parts of the country for the delivery of life - saving assistance to survivors. I also urge the international community to provide rapid, flexible and long - term funding to local civil society organizations that provide support and services to survivors . I call upon the authorities in Bangladesh to implement the 2018 framework of cooperation on addressing conflict - related sexual violence against the displaced Rohingya population. Somalia 56. Persistent violence, inter - clan disputes and cyclical humanitarian crises intensified by climate change drove displacement, exposing women and girls to conflict - related sexual violence. Difficulties in accessing areas where Al - Shabaab is present, fears of retaliation, stigma and a mistrust of formal reporting channels exacerbated chronic underreporting. In 2025, the United Nations Transitional

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 18 / 35 Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) verified incidents of conflict - related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, forced marriage, sexual assault and forced pregnancy, affecting 201 girls and 21 women, some of whom were victims of sexual violence f ollowing abduction. Violations, which often occurred in remote areas, including agricultural fields, were attributed to unidentified armed perpetrators, followed by Al - Shabaab and members of clan militia. 57. Funding cuts significantly affected monitoring and service delivery, requiring a reduction in geographical coverage. The closure of 120 one - stop centres and women’s and girls’ safe spaces nationwide left only 80 such facilities operating, which affected t he provision of services for survivors of gender - based violence in rural areas, displacement settings and conflict zones and contributed to a 42 per cent decrease in reported cases of conflict - related sexual violence as compared with 2024. Despite these constraints, the United Nations continued to deliver multisectoral services and provided support to individuals formerly associated with Al - Shabaab, including 24 female survivors of sexual violence. 58. Impunity for conflict - related sexual violence persisted, as legal and institutional frameworks lacked sufficient protection mechanisms. Survivors faced the risk of retaliation and experienced challenges in identifying perpetrators, and perpetrators were o ften shielded from accountability in traditional justice processes. In Jubbaland, a police force instruction requesting local organizations to report cases to gender desks initially sparked confidentiality and safety concerns for survivors. Engagement b y UNTMIS resulted in renewed dialogue between the Police Force and civil society on coordination for survivor - centred responses. In November, the Parliament held the first reading of the offences of rape and indecency bill, which omits absence of consent i n the definition of rape and criminalizes adultery, contrary to international human rights standards. The second phase of the transition and handover of UNTMIS responsibilities to the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations country team and other stakeholders is ongoing and has included critical areas for the prevention and response to conflict - related sexual violence, including human rights, protection and the rule of law and justice. While the Federal Government continued to emphasize its commit ment to the joint communiqué on ending sexual violence in conflict, of 2013, no progress has been made in developing an action plan for its implementation. Recommendation 59. I urge the Federal Government of Somalia to develop and implement a national action plan in relation to the joint communiqué on ending sexual violence in conflict, to expand protection, services, reparations and redress for survivors, and to strengthen th e legal framework. I urge donors to prioritize the response to conflict - related sexual violence as part of transition planning and the deployment of women’s protection advisers as part of the United Nations country team. South Sudan 60. In 2025, amid renewed political tensions and violations of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, sexual violence continued to be perpetrated with impunity, amid clashes in greater Upper Nile and greater Equatoria and a deteriorating humanitarian situation compounded by economic and climate shocks ( S/2025/706 ). The fragile local security arrangements and weak command and control within the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces heightened the risks of sexual violence for women and girls fleeing conflict and in displacement sites. Cycles of intercommunal violence and revenge included the use of sexual violence, as armed youth and members of community - based militia, particularly in Jonglei and Unity States, abducted and raped women and girls. The

S/2026/321 19 / 35 26 - 02226 United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) verified incidents of conflict - related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage, which affected 247 survivors, including 162 women, 84 girls and 1 man. Thirteen survivors became pregnant and eight gave birth as a result of conflict - related rape, and many of them faced rejection by their families, particularly in Jonglei and Western Bahr el - Ghazal States. The majority of perpetrators were members of community - based militias and non - State armed groups, including organized criminal groups in Juba and parts of Warrap and Lakes States. State security forces were also implicated, including the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, the South Sudan National Police Service and the Nat ional Security Service, in incidents near checkpoints and during night patrols, including incidents linked to extortion. In addition, violations were attributed to Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA - IO), including rape, in Central Equatoria . Community - based militia and armed youth were responsible for the highest number of reported cases, linked to intercommunal violence and to displaced communities, particularly in Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Jonglei and Unity. Victims ranged in a ge from 7 to 70 and were attacked during essential livelihood activities, following abductions and while fleeing conflict. Refugee and returnee women and girls faced heightened risks of sexual violence during their journeys and upon arrival in South Sudan, particularly in overcrowded and insecure temporary settlements. 61. Survivors were pressured by traditional leaders or family members to settle cases through customary courts and to marry the perpetrators. In some cases, survivors were turned away or extorted by the police, amid a lack of investigative capacity, forensic resources and witness protection. In order to bolster accountability, UNMISS provided support to the General Court Martial in Western Bahr el - Ghazal State which heard six cases involving conflict - related crimes, including one case of conflict - related se xual violence, committed during clashes in February 2025 in Jur River County. While the trial did not result in a verdict due to the lack of identification of assailants by victims, a directive to the State awarded financial compensation to all victims. UN MISS also provided support for the deployment of two mobile courts to Upper Nile State. The armed forces’ action plan to address conflict - related sexual violence was extended until December 2026 (see S/2025/389 ); however, the Joint Implementation Committee established to monitor the plan remained inoperative. At the time of writing, only state hospitals across 10 States have family protection centres or one - stop centres that provide multisectoral services to sur vivors, making the availability of services insufficient, as the influx of refugees and returnees from the Sudan placed additional pressure on already scarce resources. Recommendation 62. I call upon all parties to immediately cease renewed hostilities and all forms of sexual violence and to comply with their obligations under the Revitalized Agreement and under international law. I reiterate my call upon the Government to expedite the imp lementation of action plans for the armed forces and the National Police Service, to allocate the necessary budgetary resources and to investigate all incidents of sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable. I urge the Government to strengthen th e delivery of multisectoral services to survivors, including in remote and conflict - affected areas. Sudan 63. Since the eruption of hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, supported by their respective allied armed groups and militias, conflict - related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced pregnancy and abductions for the purposes of sexual exploitation,

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 20 / 35 has become a defining feature of the conflict. Women and girls, particularly from the Zaghawa and Fur communities, were targeted by the Rapid Support Forces on ethnic grounds (see A/HRC/60/22 ), as well as for their real or perceived affiliation with rival forces. In 2025, the United Nations documented cases in Khartoum, North Kordofan, South Kordofan and West Kordofan, Gezira, White Nile, Blue Nile, Sennar, River Nile State, and North Darfur, West Darfur, Central Darfur and South Darfur States, perpetrated against 275 women, 218 girls, 5 boys and 3 men, with victims ranging in age from 5 to 55 years old. The Rapid Support Forces and their allied armed militia were identified as perpetrators in the majority of cases. In the context of the offensive conducted by the R apid Support Forces, with support from the allied armed militia, on the Zamzam camp for internally displaced persons in El Fasher between 10 April and 20 May, at least 77 women, 28 girls and 3 boys were subjected to sexual violence, including rape, gang ra pe and sexual slavery. Most of these incidents occurred along the main escape routes. 64. The independent international fact - finding mission for the Sudan reported that sexual violence had been predominantly directed at women and girls since 2023. Members of the Rapid Support Forces were implicated in most documented cases, including in Bahri, El Fasher, Gezira, Khartoum, Kordofan, Kornoi, Nyala and Omdurman, which were perpetrated in public spaces and at checkpoints. Sexual and gender - based violence was used as a tactic by the Rapid Support Forces to inflict terror on entire communities, in cluding to punish and subjugate women and girls, indicating a systemic pattern. Furthermore, the mission confirmed cases of forced marriage of women and girls and sexual slavery committed by Rapid Support Forces elements. Men and boys were also subjected t o sexual violence in detention settings, including forced nudity. Children born of conflict - related rape, many of whom have been abandoned, faced serious barriers to obtaining legal identity and in social services, while the mothers also lacked access to s pecialized psychosocial and protection services. Members of the Sudanese Armed Forces were also implicated in sexual violence committed in White Nile, Blue Nile, Khartoum and Northern States, particularly during detention or displacement (see A/HRC/60/22 ). In October, amid their takeover of El Fasher and in the aftermath, the Rapid Support Forces and allied armed militia committed widespread, systematic and coordinated acts of sexual violence, including mass and gang rapes in public, primarily targeting w omen and girls from non - Arab communities, particularly the Zaghawa, and those perceived as supporters of the Sudanese Armed Forces or the joint forces allied to the Sudanese Armed Forces (see A/HRC/61/77 ). 65. Service delivery and referral mechanisms remained limited, in part due to the collapse of the health system in the Sudan. By August, 80 per cent of health facilities across conflict - affected areas were reportedly non - functional, amid a lack of critical su pplies, skilled healthcare providers and humanitarian access. In Darfur, the lack of healthcare facilities and rule of law institutions prevented survivors from safely reporting incidents and receiving support. In April 2025, the authorities adopted a r enewed framework of cooperation with the United Nations to address sexual violence in conflict, aimed at enhancing protection, service provision and accountability. Recommendation 66. I reiterate my call upon all parties to the conflict in the Sudan to cease all forms of sexual violence and integrate relevant provisions on addressing sexual violence in future ceasefire and peacemaking processes, and to ensure the full and meaningful par ticipation of women in these processes. I urge all parties to ensure safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to service providers in every state. I welcome the adoption of the 2025 framework of cooperation and call for its full implementation and I call upon

S/2026/321 21 / 35 26 - 02226 the Government to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, according to international norms and standards. Syrian Arab Republic 67. In 2025, amid the release of thousands from detention facilities following the end of the previous Syrian regime (see A/HRC/58/66 ), multi - year patterns of rape and sexual violence, perpetrated under the previous regime, have been documented by the United Nations. Female detainees were primarily subjected to rape, while male detainees, including boys, experienced sexual violence as a form of torture. In 2025, the United Nations reported cases of sexual violence against four girls perpetrated between October 2022 and December 2024 by Da’esh and the so - called opposition Syrian National Army (see S/2025/535 ). In May, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic issued decree No. 20, establishing a National Commission on Transitional Justice, aimed at pursuing justice and accountability for violations committed during the era of the former regime, compensating victims and ens uring non - repetition and national reconciliation. 68. In 2025, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic documented abduction followed by rape and forced marriage, including cases against Alawite women, perpetrated by members of unidentified armed factions, amid the repo rted killing of civilians predominantly from Alawite communities in coastal areas by armed elements and some members of the Government security forces. In Ladhiqiyah and Homs Governorates, men and boys from the Alawite and Murshid communities were subje cted to genital beatings by non - state Syrian and foreign fighters as well as General Security members (see A/HRC/59/CRP.4). In July, during armed clashes in southern governorates, allegations surfaced of abductions of Druze and Bedouin women and sexual vio lence perpetrated against them by armed elements. Victims and families who filed complaints reported facing threats and other impediments to obtaining assistance from local law enforcement. An internal inquiry by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic on purported abductions of women between January and September asserted that only one case of abduction, out of 42 that were reported, was confirmed. Over 300 Syrian women’s and civil society organizations and activists challenged these findings. Cases of sexual violence linked with abductions have since emerged (see A/HRC/61/62 ). Concerns persist regarding the security situation in these areas. At least three appointees to the new Syrian armed forces have reportedly been implicated in recent or past human rights violations against minorities in the context of which conflict - rela ted sexual violence allegedly occurred. 69. In early 2026, following shifts in territorial control in the north - east of the Syrian Arab Republic, thousands of Syrian and foreign women and children departed Hawl camp, prior to its closure in February. In 2025, the United Nations had determined that many among this population were victims of trafficking in persons, including individuals subjected to repeated forced marriages and children born of rape. Recommendation 70. I call upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to ensure accountability for conflict - related sexual violence crimes within the transitional justice legal framework and to engage with my Special Representative on g prevention, protection and assist ance measures for survivors. Ukraine 71. In 2025, patterns of sexual violence in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in the Russian Federation continued to be documented. Russian

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 22 / 35 authorities consistently denied access to United Nations monitors, who were only able to conduct confidential interviews with Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees after their release. In most cases, civilian detainees who had been released and other civilians who remained in territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation could only be reached once they left these areas. Survivors of sexual violence continued to face barriers to reporting, including stigma and the fear of retaliation against family members still residing in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. While my Special Representative reiterated the readiness of her Office to provide technical support to relevant authorities of the Russian Federation in their implementation of prevention measures as outlined in Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) , the United Nations has not received information on remedial action taken or been granted access for monitoring and verification. 72. Despite these challenges, the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine verified 310 cases of conflict - related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks and beatings to the genitals, affecting 280 men, 26 women and 4 girls, perpetrated by Russian armed and security forces, including the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Russian armed forces and the Federal Security Service. At least 52 cases were perpetrated in 2025 against male prisoners of war and civilian detain ees, primarily after they had been transferred to a new facility. The remaining cases, while verified and documented in 2025, took place between February 2022 and December 2024. Of the 310 cases documented, 232 cases (74.83 per cent) involved multiple form s of sexual violence, while 195 cases (62.9 per cent) involved multiple incidents of sexual violence, which was often used to punish or humiliate, or extract confessions from, prisoners of war and civilian detainees. A male prisoner of war was raped with a knife by Russian armed forces upon capture in 2022, and subsequently subjected to repeated sexual violence, including forced nudity, beatings and electric shocks to the genitals, by Russian penitentiary staff, until being released in 2025. Russian peniten tiary staff subjected another male prisoner of war to similar and multiple instances of sexual violence in detention from 2022 to 2025. Based on accounts collected since the invasion in 2022, in addition to Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian detainees we re also subjected to widespread and systematic torture and ill - treatment, which included sexual violence, according to the findings of the human rights monitoring mission. 73. In terms of prevailing patterns, conflict - related sexual violence has predominantly affected men. However, reports by United Nations bodies and humanitarian service providers issued in 2025 also recorded sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reported rape and o ther forms of sexual violence committed as a form of torture against female detainees and civilians, detailing four cases of rape, including with batons and other object s, perpetrated against a female prisoner of war and three civilian women, causing long - term physical and psychological harm (see A/HRC/58/67 ). Service providers described further patterns of sexual violence including repeated rapes, collective rapes and sexual violence as a form of torture against women and girls, frequently occurring within private homes and often marked by extreme brutality, as well as during unlawful detention or at checkpoints in territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. 74. The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine also documented 31 cases of conflict - related sexual violence implicating Ukrainian armed forces, Security Service and penitentiary staff, the majority of which occurred prior to 2025. Violations comprised ele ctric shocks and beatings to the genitals, as well as forced nudity, perpetrated against 27 men and 4 women, including civilian detainees and prisoners of war in Ukraine, with nine of these cases occurring in 2025. The Government of Ukraine continued to grant access to independent monitors, lawyers and the families

S/2026/321 23 / 35 26 - 02226 of civilian detainees and prisoners of war, while it also took steps to strengthen national policy and the legislative framework to address sexual violence, in line with the 2022 framework of cooperation to address conflict - related sexual violence agreed b etween Ukraine and the United Nations and its related implementation plan. In 2025, Law No. 4067 - IX on urgent interim reparations was enacted, outlining the provision of interim reparations for survivors, although its implementation has been delayed. Multi sectoral services were expanded, with the National Social Service of Ukraine reporting 1,123 points of delivery for specialized services to survivors. The network of survivor relief centres was restructured and relaunched in 2025. The elaboration of a mult i - year national programme on combating trafficking in persons (2026 – 2030) was under way with United Nations support to address increased incidents of trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation, since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Recommendation 75. I reiterate my call upon the Russian Federation to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence and to engage with my Special Representative to implement time - bound commitments to address sexual violence, in line with Security Council resolutions 1960 (2010) , 2106 (2013) and 2467 (2019) , which should include, inter alia, the issuance of clear orders through chains of command, the investigation of all credible allegations and accountability for those responsible. I also reiterate my call upon the Russian Federation to grant unimpeded acce ss for monitoring and the provision of services to survivors in areas and detention facilities under its control. I call upon the Ukrainian authorities to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence and to continue to address sexual violence and commend the progress made in the implementation of the 2022 framework of cooperation. I urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence. Yemen 76. Conflict - related sexual violence persisted in Yemen, amid arbitrary detentions and the proliferation of illicit weapons. As part of the monitoring of grave violations against children, the United Nations verified incidents of sexual violence against six g irls and six boys. The Panel of Experts on Yemen established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2140 (2014) reported widespread conflict - related sexual violence in areas controlled by the Houthis. Sexual violence was used strategically to demoralize dissidents, including by undressing female relatives in front of male detainees, in addition to instances of rape of men in detention. Former detainees and human rights activists indicated that children have been born in detention as a result of rape and, in some cases, were separated from their mothers after one year, with the children remaining under the custody of the Houthis. The Zaynabiyat, an all - female unit associated with the security branches of the Houthis, have been actively involved in conflict - related sexual violence perpetrated as a form of torture or punishment against women. Child, early and forced mar riage persisted, exacerbated by poverty, with reports of Houthi “supervisors” coercing women and girls into marriage (see S/2025/650 ). 77. Women and girls continued to face movement restrictions and security constraints that impeded access to services and humanitarian assistance in the north of Yemen. In 2025, the operating environment for service providers in Houthi - controlled areas was fur ther constricted due to the arbitrary detention by the Houthis of personnel of the United Nations, non - governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions, as well as the seizure of United Nations premises and assets. In December, escalati ng tensions in the southern and eastern governorates exacerbated protection risks and limited safe access to services for women and girls. While the

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 24 / 35 National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights has increased reporting on conflict - related sexual violence with the technical assistance of the United Nations (Human Rights Council resolution 30/18 ), the country’s legal framework continued to pose barriers to justice for survivors, including because of the narrow legal definitions of rape. Recommendation 78. I call upon the parties to the conflict to cease all forms of sexual violence and grant unimpeded access to detention settings. I reiterate my call upon the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release arbitrarily detained civilians, including perso nnel of the United Nations and its partners. I urge the Government to prioritize a survivor - centred approach to protection and service delivery in line with resolution 2467 (2019) and to enact comprehensive legislation criminalizing all forms of sexual violence. IV. Other situations of concern Ethiopia 79. In 2025, amid renewed tensions in Tigray and ongoing violence in Amhara and Oromiya, the United Nations verified sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, targeting seven women and seven girls, across Oromiya and Tigray, perpetrated by non - State armed groups, including the Oromo Liberation Army and government - affiliated militia. Cases also implicated members of State forces, including the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, the Oromiya and Amhara police, as well as elements of the Eritrean Defence Force s. Since 2021, the Amhara Special Forces and militia and the Tigrayan forces have also been implicated (see S/2022/272 , S/2023/413 , S/2024/292 and S/2025/389 ). As an indication of the scale and severity of the problem, in 2025, 5,700 survivors of sexual violence received medical care in medical centres supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, in conflict - affected areas. Humanitarian service p roviders recorded cases and issued reports in 2025 further detailing patterns of sexual violence perpetrated in Tigray beginning in 2020, including rape, gang rape, insertion of foreign objects and intentional transmission of HIV, which were also documente d by the United Nations and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. Similarly, there were reports concerning cases of sexual violence in Afar and Amhara, including rape and sexual slavery in Amhara. 80. The Government has highlighted several steps it has taken to bolster accountability. Two members of the Oromiya Police and a government - affiliated militia member were convicted of rape and sentenced ranging from 11 to 15 years in prison in 2025. In Tigray , the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities signed in 2022 explicitly recognizes rape as a “weapon of war ” and mandates accountability and redress for sexual violence in a national transitional justice policy. The Gove rnment has indicated that draft laws are being elaborated to strengthen provisions of the Criminal Code on gender - based violence and to review evidentiary requirements. Services in many remote areas remained largely inaccessible due to insecurity and stigm a, compounding the severe, long - term physical and psychological consequences of sexual violence on survivors. Recommendation 81. I urge the Government to implement an inclusive transitional justice process that guarantees the rights of all victims to truth, justice and reparations, and holds all perpetrators of sexual violence accountable, regardless of rank or affiliation. I call

S/2026/321 25 / 35 26 - 02226 upon the Government to ensure safe and non - discriminatory access to multisectoral services for all survivors. I reiterate my call upon the Government to engage with my Special Representative to adopt a framework of cooperation to address sexual violence; the Office of my Special Representative and United Nations partners on the ground stand ready to extend technical cooperation and assistance. Haiti 82. In 2025, organized criminal groups expanded control over Port - au - Prince, including into Artibonite Department and parts of Centre Department, facilitated by ready access to military - grade weapons. Patterns and trends of sexual violence linked to gangs reco rded in 2024, which were marked by extreme brutality, intensified in 2025, with women and girls attacked in and around their homes, on public transport, at informal displacement sites and during routine movements across neighbourhoods controlled by gangs. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) verified cases affecting 1,668 women, 187 girls, 2 men and six boys, representing a striking 163 per cent increase compared with 2024. Collective rape remained the predominant pattern, accounting for 77 per cent of violations, followed by rape (18 per cent). In some instances, sexual violence was accompanied by kidnapping and killing. Moreover, credible accounts indicate that sexual slavery and exploitation are far more pervasive than documented and cons titute a systemic practice by multiple gangs, with survivors abducted, held under threat of force, repeatedly raped and trafficked for sexual exploitation. Multiple survivors of sexual violence reported being kidnapped and taken to an unknown location wher e they were raped and collectively raped by multiple gang members. Cases affecting girls included collective rape over a prolonged period, and in certain cases, killing, suggesting that sexual violence against children forms an integral part of strategies employed by gangs to assert control. Sexual violence perpetrated by adolescents further indicates an early normalization of sexual violence. The Panel of Experts on Haiti established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2653 (2022) received information about 25 girls and women, between the ages of 15 and 25, who were raped, beaten or killed by members of armed gangs for having refused to join the gang or submit to gang control ( S/2025/597 ). Such violations are not isolated and form part of a broader pattern of sexual violence attributed primarily to Les Argentins, Boston, Brooklyn, Belekou, Canaan, Grand Ravine, Kokorat San Ras, Pierre VI and 5 Segond. Overall, an increase in incidents of sexual violence, documented in Artibonite and Centre Departments, corresponded to heightened gang activity. Members of the Haitian National Police were also implicated in some incidents. 83. Sexual violence remained severely underreported, driven by fear of reprisals, stigma, limited services and weak trust in judicial institutions. Humanitarian service providers reported 4,814 cases of sexual violence, of which over 2,000 were collective rap es, primarily of women and girls. Rape resulted in unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. With United Nations support, national authorities established specialized judicial units, one of which will adjudicate mass crimes, including sexual violence. Following the establishment of a commission to prioritize sexual violence cases (see S/2025/389 ), the ordinary justice system had, as of December 2025, 90 cases pending investigation and 69 at the pretrial stage, while 36 had been adjudicated. The United Nations also continued to support the Haitian National Police and magistrates in strengthening i nvestigations, prosecutions and adjudication, while promoting increased coordination between the police, service providers and civil society, particularly women - led organizations, to rebuild trust, improve a survivor - centred police response and promote acc ountability.

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 26 / 35 Recommendation 84. I call for the complete cessation of conflict - related sexual violence and for all perpetrators to be held accountable. I urge the international community to expand support for national humanitarian and security efforts and to prioritize protection, especi ally for women and girls affected by sexual violence. I call upon all partners to fully adhere to the highest standards of protection and international human rights law throughout the transition from the Multinational Security Support Mission to the Gan g Suppression Force. I encourage the international community to strengthen assistance to national authorities in order to ensure the provision of multisectoral services and access to justice for all survivors. Nigeria 85. In 2025, in north - east Nigeria, non - State armed groups, particularly Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, perpetrated sexual violence to terrorize populations and punish perceived supporters of rival armed groups. The United Nations verified incidents of rape and other forms of sexual violence against 324 girls and 7 boys, in particular in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. These cases took place during abductions by armed groups, after which children were forced into marriage, and attacks ag ainst civilians, particularly in rural areas and internally displaced persons camps. Survivors were between the ages of 8 and 17. Victims who escaped captivity by armed groups faced further sexual violence and stigma upon returning to their communities. Hu man rights defenders and front - line workers faced threats and reprisals from armed groups attempting to impede the documentation of these violations. 86. The Government of Nigeria took steps to strengthen the delivery of services, including the clinical management of rape. At the same time, reports of sexual violence in detention and sexual exploitation in the context of conflict - related displacement under score the need for strengthened protection. Gaps in financial resources and shortages of trained personnel persisted, resulting in the scaling down and interruption of services and undermining survivors’ trust in institutions. Against this backdrop, the United Nations and international partners responded through the use of early warning indicators – monitoring military operations, attacks by non - State armed groups and displacement trends – to inform action, including for the deployment of mobile health t eams. Recommendation 87. I condemn the abduction and use of sexual violence against women and children by non - State armed groups and urge their immediate release and the cessation of these crimes. I further call upon the Government to ensure that survivors have access to services, and to ensure accountability and that counter - terrorism measures are in line with international human rights law and address the needs of women and girls associated with armed groups. V. Addressing crimes of sexual violence in post - conflict settings 88. National authorities developed transitional justice measures, including reparations for survivors of conflict - related sexual violence, though survivors continued to face legal and administrative barriers to accessing them. In June 2025, my Special Representative visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage with national authorities and civil society on strengthening accountability and redress. To date, of the estimated 20,000 to 50,000 victims of conflict - related sexual violence, approximately 1,000

S/2026/321 27 / 35 26 - 02226 survivors have received compensation. The reparations commission in Kosovo 2 has, to date, approved 1,884 claims, of which 77 were approved in 2025; however, survivors whose claims have been approved must initiate an additional application to actually receive compensation. The commission’s mandate was extended until 2028. In 2025, following the appointment of commissioners to two transitional justice mechanisms in Nepal, the reopening of complaint registrations resulted in the submission of over 4,000 complaints relating to sexual violence, though civil society organizations have highlighted that this one - time three - month window for submissions excluded many survivors from the process. Conflict - related sexual violence committed during the conflict in Sri Lanka continued to be met with impunity (see A/HRC/60/21 ) given the lack of national mechanisms to ensure accountability (see CEDAW/C/LKA/CO/9 ). While a policy and an action plan on reconciliation are under development, concerns persisted regarding the lack of adequate safety guarantees and confidence - building measures for survivors and witnesses (see A/HRC/60/21 ). In accordance with the Law on Support to Female Yazidi Survivors, of 2021, as at 31 October 2025, compensation had been delivered to 2,587 applicants, including 1,341 Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak and Christian survivors of sexual violence. 89. The delivery of survivor - centred services remained critical and an underfunded component of transitional justice. Budgetary constraints sharply limited access to mental health and psychosocial support in Iraq, with only 17 survivors referred for such supp ort by the General Directorate for Survivors Affairs under the federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, marking a 91 per cent decrease compared with 2024. Civil society organizations expressed concerns that the drawdown of the United Nations Assis tance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), which was completed in December 2025, could result in gaps in protection, the delivery of services and the pursuit of justice for survivors of conflict - related sexual violence. The amendment adopted in Nepal in 2024 to the T ransitional Justice Act removed statutory limitations and mandated “gender - friendly” procedures; nevertheless, concerns persisted over political interference and lack of resources. With support from the United Nations, the Office for Reparations in Sri Lan ka has undertaken inclusive consultations with conflict - affected communities, including survivors of sexual violence, on their needs, with a view to expanding collective reparations initiatives and psychosocial support. However, stigma surrounding sexual violence, long - standing mistrust in State - led processes and the failure to recognize sexual violence as a distinct category within monetary relief frameworks collectively undermine survivors’ ability to access assistance. 90. Conflict - related sexual violence has long - term and intergenerational impacts, to which States have responded to varying degrees. Six female Yazidi survivors of conflict - related sexual violence, who were abducted by Da’esh as children in 2014, were rescued in 2025 from neighbouring countries to which they had been trafficked. Of the estimated 6,417 Yazidis abducted by Da’esh, 1,221 women and 1,329 men remain missing. Although the legislative framework on the rights of children born of conflict - related ra pe has been strengthened, its implementation remains uneven, as in the Western Balkans. Survivor - led organizations reported that children born of conflict - related rape continue to face obstacles with regard to access to education, healthcare and their citi zenship rights, while victims of conflict - related sexual violence suffered mental and physical trauma. Recommendation 91. I call upon authorities in post - conflict settings to lead transitional justice processes by: ensure the meaningful participation of survivors, survivor - led organizations and __________________ 2 References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) .

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 28 / 35 civil society; allocating adequate resources for transformative reparations for survivors and children born of conflict - related rape; ensuring access to justice for survivors in criminal and truth - seeking processes; and guaranteeing the non - recurrence of violations. VI. Recommendations 92. The following recommendations build upon and should be read in conjunction with those presented in my previous reports. 93. I recommend that the Security Council: (a) Call upon all parties to conflict to immediately cease all forms of conflict - related sexual violence in compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions, as applicable, and international humanitarian law; and encourage all State and non - State parties to conflict to adopt timebound commitments to prevent and address conflict - related sexual violence in line with Security Council resolutions 1888 (2009) , 1960 (2010) , 2106 (2013) and 2467 (2019) , and monitor their compliance, including through the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security; (b) Ensure that incidents of sexual violence are systematically monitored and incorporated as a stand - alone designation criterion for targeted sanctions; ensure that sanctions committees receive timely information on conflict - related sexual violence, including , as appropriate, through their expert monitoring groups and the Office of my Special Representative, as needed; and consider applying sanctions to perpetrators who have appeared in the annex to the present report for five or more years without taking remedial action, as appropriate, in line with the provisions set out in paragraph 3 of Security Council resolution 1960 (2010) ; (c) Call upon parties to conflict to provide the United Nations and humanitarian actors with unhindered access to conflict - affected and occupied areas in order to reach survivors of conflict - related sexual violence in need of multisectoral assistance; and to r espect and protect humanitarian and United Nations personnel, in line with Security Council resolution 2730 (2024) and international humanitarian law; (d) Ensure that mandate authorizations and renewals of peace operations include or retain references to the deployment of women’s protection advisers; and promote the deployment of women’s protection advisers to United Nations peace operations and offices of r esident and humanitarian coordinators in all relevant situations of concern, in line with Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) ; (e) Request, during transitions from United Nations peacekeeping operations to special political missions and/or United Nations country teams, that mandate authorizations and planning processes integrate: dedicated operational provisions on addressing conflict - related sexual violence, including the retention and timely deployment of women’s protection advisers; specific benchmarks and indicators on addressing sexual violence within protection and peace consolidation frameworks; effective engagement with pa rties to conflict for timebound commitments; and support for the work of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements, which provides a reliable information base for timely prevention, risk mitigation and protection measures;

S/2026/321 29 / 35 26 - 02226 (f) Assess the risks of violations of international law, including conflict - related sexual violence, for civilians in detention; and support access for mandated United Nations entities to conduct monitoring; (g) Consider, under article 13 (b) of the Rome Statute, referral to the International Criminal Court in situations where sexual violence, as defined in the Statute, appears to have been committed. 94. I encourage Member States: (a) To adopt a survivor - centred approach that prioritizes survivors’ rights, needs and aspirations; to promote an enabling environment for survivors to seek support on a non - discriminatory basis, through scaled - up funding for services, including HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive healthcare, safe termination of pregnancy, psychosocial and legal services and socioeconomic reintegration; (b) To provide dedicated contributions for the deployment of women’s protection advisers to all situations of concern; ensure an adequate number of these positions in the regular budget of peacekeeping operations, special political missions and offices of resi dent and humanitarian coordinators; and support national, regional and local authorities, survivors’ networks, women - led organizations, and service providers in advancing joint communiqués and/or frameworks of cooperation; (c) To foster a gender - and age - responsive security sector through effective oversight and accountability, thereby preventing the recruitment, retention or promotion within security institutions or reserve armed forces of individuals credibly suspected of viol ations; (d) To adopt gender - responsive national legislation and policies on arms control and weapons and ammunition management, in accordance with their obligations, including against transnational organized crime, illicit small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition management in line with relevant international and regional conventions and frameworks; (e) To strengthen accountability by adopting legislation drawing on the Model Legislative Provisions and Guidance on the Investigation and Prosecution of Conflict - Related Sexual Violence, enhancing investigation, prosecution and forensic capacities through app ropriate judicial mechanisms, regardless of the perpetrator’s rank or affiliation, and promoting transformative reparations. 95. I encourage all stakeholders, including Member States, donors and regional and intergovernmental organizations: (a) To address chronic underfunding by providing predictable and sustainable financial support to the conflict - related sexual violence multi - partner trust fund that supports the work of the United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict network in delivering multisectoral services, and the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict on justice and accounta bility; (b) To ensure that provisions on prohibiting and addressing conflict - related sexual violence are integrated into the design and implementation of peace, ceasefire or cessation of hostilities agreements, electoral monitoring arrangements, and/or subsequent agre ements, and that such crimes are excluded from amnesties and statutes of limitations; and promote the full and meaningful participation of women and survivors in political, peacemaking, peacebuilding, humanitarian response and transitional justice pro cesses;

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 30 / 35 (c) To create an enabling environment for women’s safe participation in public and political life, and establish urgent response mechanisms to address reprisals, including for cooperation with the United Nations; (d) To support the provision of training for United Nations personnel, including those in United Nations field operations undergoing transitions and phased drawdowns, on addressing conflict - related sexual violence.

S/2026/321 31 / 35 26 - 02226 Annex List of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict on the agenda of the Security Council The following list does not purport to be comprehensive, but rather includes parties for whom credible information is available. It should be noted that the names of countries and territories appear only to indicate the locations where parties are suspect ed of committing violations. The following State actors have undertaken formal commitments to address conflict - related sexual violence and are at various stages of implementation: the national armed forces of the Central African Republic; the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic o f the Congo; the Congolese National Police; the Somali National Army; the Somali Police Force; the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces; the South Sudan National Police Service; and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar made formal commitments in 2018, but there has been limited progress in their implementation by the Myanmar armed forces, including the integrated Border Guard. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a notable downward trend in United Nations verified cases of conflict - related sexual violence attributed to the Congolese National Police over the past five years was observed. This positive development coincides w ith the continued engagement of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with my Special Representative to ensure accountability and the sustained commitment of national authorities to addressing conflict - related sexual violence. Notably, thi s engagement has translated into the development of dedicated road maps for the police within the framework of the 2019 addendum to the joint communiqué on prevention of conflict - related sexual violence. In my next report I will consider de - listing the Con golese National Police, taking into account the continued decline observed, together with demonstrable progress in the implementation of the dedicated road maps for the army and police to address sexual violence and related formal commitments to address co nflict - related sexual violence. Further to the concerns expressed in the appendix to my previous report ( S/2025/389 ), incidents and patterns of sexual violence continued to be documented by the United Nations in Ukraine and in the context of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Despite my call upon the parties who were put on notice for listing to immediately cease all acts of sexual violence and implement specific time - bound commitments as outlined in Security Council resolution 2467 (2019) (paras. 1 and 2), consistent denial of access for United Nations monitors persisted, and there has been no implementation of the specific prevention and accountability measures as outlined in the aforementioned resolution. The following non - State actors have undertaken commitments to address conflict - related sexual violence: Groupe d’autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs alliés, part of Plateforme des mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d’Alger; Mouvement national de libération d e l’Azawad, part of Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad; and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition – pro - Machar. However, there has been limited progress in the implementation of those commitments. State and non - State actors who have made commitments are denoted with an asterisk in the list below.

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 32 / 35 Parties in the Central African Republic 1. Non - State actors (a) Azande Ani Kpi Gbe; (b) Coalition des patriotes pour le changement – former President François Bozizé: (i) Retour, réclamation et réhabilitation – General Bobbo; (ii) Anti - balaka Mokom - Maxime Mokom; (iii) Anti - balaka Ngaïssona - Dieudonné Ndomate; (iv) Front populaire pour la rena issance de la Centrafrique – Noureddine Adam and Zone Commander Mahamat Salleh; (v) Mouvement patriotique pour la Centrafrique – Mahamat Al - Khatim; (vi) Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique - Ali Darrassa; (c) Front démocratique du peuple centrafricain – Abdoulaye Miskine; (d) Lord’s Resistance Army; (e) Révolution et justice. 2. State actors Armed Forces of the Central African Republic.* Parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1. Non - State actors (a) Alliance des patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain - Janvier; (b) Allied Democratic Forces; (c) Chini ya Tuna; (d) Coopérative pour le développement du Congo; (e) Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda; (f) Force de résistance patriotique de l’Ituri; (g) Forces nationales de libération; (h) Forces patriotiques populaires - Armée du peuple; (i) Lord’s Resistance Army; (j) Mai - Mai Apa Na Pale; (k) Mai - Mai du groupe armé de l’Union des patriotes pour la libération du Congo; (l) Mai - Mai Kifuafua; (m) Mai - Mai Malaika; (n) Mai - Mai Perci Moto; (o) Mai - Mai Raia Mutomboki; (p) Mai - Mai Yakutumba; (q) Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23); (r) Nduma défense du Congo; * Indicates that the party has made formal commitments to adopt measures to address conflict - related sexual violence.

S/2026/321 33 / 35 26 - 02226 (s) Nduma défense du Congo - Rénové faction led by “General” Guidon Shimiray Mwissa and faction led by Commander Gilbert Bwira Shuo and Deputy Commander Fidel Malik Mapenzi; (t) Ngumino; (u) Nyatura; (v) Résistance pour un État de droit au Burundi (RED Tabara); (w) Twa militias; (x) Twirwaneho; (y) Union des patriotes pour la défense des citoyens; (z) Wazalendo armed elements; (aa) Zaïre militia. 2. State actors (a) Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;* (b) Congolese National Police. Parties in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory 1. Non - State actors Hamas. 2. State actors Israeli armed and security forces. Parties in Libya 1. Non - State actors Internal Security Agency (Benghazi). 2. State actors (a) Deterrence Agency for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime; (b) General Administration for Combating Illegal Migration (formerly Department for Combating Illegal Migration). Parties in Mali Non - State actors (a) Jama’a Nusrat ul - Islam wa al - Muslimin, including Ansar Eddine and Al - Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb; (b) Islamic State Sahel Province (formerly Islamic State in the Greater Sahara); (c) Groupe d’autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs alliés, part of Plateforme des mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d’Alger;* (d) Mouvement national de libération de l’Azawad, part of Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad.*

S/2026/321 26 - 02226 34 / 35 Parties in Myanmar State actors Myanmar armed forces, including the integrated Border Guard.* Parties in Somalia 1. Non - State actors Al - Shabaab. 2. State actors (a) Somali National Army;* (b) Somali Police Force* (and allied militia); (c) Puntland forces. Parties in South Sudan 1. Non - State actors (a) Lord’s Resistance Army; (b) Justice and Equality Movement; (c) Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition – pro - Machar.* 2. State actors (a) South Sudan People’s Defence Forces;* (b) South Sudan National Police Service.* Parties in the Sudan 1. Non - State actors (a) Justice and Equality Movement; (b) Rapid Support Forces* and allied armed militia; (c) Sudan Liberation Army - Abdul Wahid. 2. State actors Sudanese Armed Forces.* Parties in the Syrian Arab Republic 1. Non - State actors (a) Ahrar al - Sham; (b) Army of Islam; (c) Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh); (d) Hay’at Tahrir al - Sham. 2. State actors Government forces of the previous Syrian regime, including the National Defence Forces, intelligence services and pro - government militias.

S/2026/321 35 / 35 26 - 02226 Parties in Ukraine State actors Russian armed and security forces. Other parties of concern on the agenda of the Security Council Parties listed by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti (a) Viv Ansanm coalition (formerly G9 Family and Allies, and G Pep), including: (i) Delmas 6 (Jimmy Cherizier); (ii) 5 Segond gang (Johnson Andre); (iii) Grand Ravine gang (Renel Destina); (iv) Kraze Barye gang (Vitelhomme Innocent); (v) 400 Mawozo gang (Wils on Joseph); (vi) Canaan (Jeff Larose); (vii) Les Argentins (Kempes Sanon); (viii) Kokorat San Ras (Benji); (b) Gran Grif (Luckson Elan). Parties listed by the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al - Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities (a) Islamic State West Africa Province; (b) Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal - Jihad (Boko Haram); (c) Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh); (d) Jama’a Nusrat ul - Islam wa al - Muslimin; (e) Ansar Eddine; (f) Al - Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb; (g) Islamic State Sahel Province (formerly Islamic State in the Greater Sahara).