UN special representative: 9,788 cases of conflict‑related sexual violence documented; Israel and Russia listed in Secretary‑General’s report

Primila Patton, the Secretary‑General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, briefed reporters on the Secretary‑General’s 17th annual report on conflict‑related sexual violence, saying the document—submitted to the Security Council late yesterday—spans 21 conflict‑affected countries and documents 9,788 verified cases, more than double last year’s figure.

“This report is not just about two countries but spans 21 conflict‑affected countries,” Patton said, urging listeners not to forget “the women, girls, men, and boys whose bodies, minds, and futures have been shattered by unacceptable violence.” She emphasized that the report focuses on verified incidents, which she described as “the very tip of the iceberg,” and cautioned that access constraints and mission drawdowns mean the figures underrepresent the full scale of violations.

The report’s annex lists 77 parties credibly suspected of patterns of conflict‑related sexual violence; Patton said the majority are non‑state actors and that this cycle included three newly listed non‑state actors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and two newly listed state actors. Among state actors, Patton said the report lists Israeli armed and security forces—including the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Prison Service—and the Russian armed and security forces, citing UN‑verified information indicating continued patterns of rape and other sexual violence.

Patton told reporters that the UN verified 31 cases primarily in detention settings involving people from Gaza and the West Bank and that, for Russia‑related allegations, the report documents 310 cases affecting mostly men and boys. She described violations ranging from rape and gang rape to forced nudity, strip and cavity searches, threats meant to deter reporting, and incidents of physical violence to genitals.

Patton cited denial of access and security constraints as major obstacles to documentation. “Ongoing conflict, insecurity and restrictions on humanitarian access increasingly obstruct reporting and documentation,” she said, adding that lack of unimpeded access for UN human rights monitors and cuts to UN funding have reduced survivor services and monitoring capacity.

On the Israel listing specifically, Patton said she and her office engaged the permanent mission of Israel about a planned visit, requested clarity about the visit’s purpose and asked for access for relevant UN entities to verify implementation of preventive measures outlined by the Secretary‑General. She said the Secretary‑General sent a letter on Aug. 11, 2025, setting out preventive measures; Israel responded to the country section of the report on March 31, 2026, rejecting patterns of sexual violence alleged in the report and providing laws, policies and directives but little evidence of implementation, prosecutions or convictions.

Responding to questions about whether she personally viewed video or photographic evidence cited in the report, Patton said her mandate is to compile verified information gathered and documented by UN human rights monitors and that she is not the primary investigator or custodian of evidentiary materials. “The information is verified with a very robust methodology of verification and documentation,” she said, adding that her office relies on OHCHR and UN human rights monitors for primary documentation.

Patton also warned that shrinking budgets have disrupted prevention and survivor services. She said emergency funding approvals have enabled some missions but that broader cuts—including a lapse in some U.S. funding—have constrained programming and forced prioritization of a few countries where projects can continue.

Amid the critical findings, Patton pointed to a positive development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: sustained engagement and a national road map have correlated with a downward trend in UN‑verified cases attributed to the Congolese National Police. She said the Secretary‑General indicated an intention to delist that police force in the next reporting cycle if the decline and implementation of preventive measures continue.

Patton closed by reiterating that her office’s focus is survivor protection and prevention, not politics, and that her team remains available to engage with member states and relevant UN entities. She said decisions on listings and delistings will continue to hinge on demonstrated cessation of violations and unimpeded access for the UN to verify compliance with preventive measures.