Statement of Liechtenstein, October, 2015

Another element that will be essential for the success of the WPS Agenda is justice. We must finally put an end to the continuing culture of impunity. This is all the more true with regard to crimes of conflict-related sexual violence, which have seen a frightening increase in recent years. Extremist groups in particular strategically use rape and sexual slavery as a weapon of war to damage and undermine communities. The long-term consequences of these crimes are devastating, and we urgently need to eliminate this practice. We welcome the ICC's policy paper on sexual and gender-based crimes and the Prosecutor's focus in this regard. Conflict- related sexual violence plays a role in nearly every case under investigation and prosecution by the Court. At the same time, justice for survivors of sexual violence continues to be a great exception to the rule, and holding perpetrators accountable has proven to bJ exceedingly difficult. To ensure effective prosecution and accountability, it is crucial that evidence is professionally collected at the earliest possible stage. This process may be assisted inter a/ia by the Justice Rapid Response initiative (JRR); Liechtenstein is proud to have supported its work on sexual and gender-based violence for years.