Under the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, currently held by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka presided over a high-level public debate on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. This significant session of the UN body focused entirely on the critical issue of conflict-related sexual violence.

The debate, operating under the poignant theme, “Honoring the Promise of International Law to Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence,” brought together member states to discuss the effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Kinshasa demands concrete actions

Prime Minister Suminwa emphasized that lasting peace remains elusive when survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are denied justice, communities are left without reparations, and perpetrators, their accomplices, and masterminds continue to operate with impunity.

“Our ambition can no longer be solely to document the horror after it has occurred. The Congolese presidency of the Security Council has chosen to begin with the victims, because no peace architecture holds meaning if it does not originate from those who have paid the heaviest price in war,” she asserted.

Ending impunity

Pramila Patten, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, addressed the assembly. She expressed profound gratitude to the Democratic Republic of Congo for elevating this deeply concerning issue to the Security Council level.

“I commend the political courage of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the very first country directly affected by this scourge, to convene this debate. This sets a positive precedent, a positive example for those who turn a blind eye to sexual violence… The promise of international law has never been more pertinent and has never been more imperiled. The report [from the UN Secretary-General’s office] calls for a response to the new realities of war,” Patten stated.

According to her, sexual violence persists as a weapon of war, with verified cases continuing to rise globally.

The highest number of UN-verified cases have been recorded in these nations:

• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Central African Republic
• Colombia
• Haiti
• Sudan

This high-level public discussion provided a vital platform for numerous states to voice their perspectives on the matter and to demand the effective enforcement of existing Security Council resolutions pertaining to sexual violence.