Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The position of Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict was created by United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1888 in 2009, and appointments to the position are made by the UN Secretary-General. The current Special Representative is Pramila Patten from Mauritius, who was appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres on April 12, 2017. The primary mandate of the position is to lead a coordinated and robust response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) by providing clear and careful leadership in the spheres of politics and advocacy; improving coordination between the constituent arms of the UN system; and leading advocacy efforts with governments, civil society, and all parties to armed conflict. To this end, the Special Representative chairs UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a network of UN entities working to unify action to prevent and address CRSV. The Special Representative also oversees the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict, which works to increase accountability through criminal investigations, legislative reform, and reparations for survivors. This chapter discusses the work of the Special Representative, including challenges faced (e.g., the cultural sensitivities of various Member States) and suggestions on how to improve its effectiveness (e.g., harnessing the “collective energy of the UN system” and prioritizing survivor-centered assistance and accountability for perpetrators of CRSV). This chapter examines the origins and achievements of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), from the inception of the mandate, primarily in response to conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Darfur, to the present moment of multiple, intersecting crises, including record levels of militarization, displacement, and unconstitutional shifts in power. It takes stock of the normative, institutional, and operational impact of the mandate, including its three “operational arms,” namely, the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict (TOE), the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) coordination network, and Women’s Protection Advisers (WPAs), unpacking the example of Côte d’Ivoire from the listing of its armed forces for CRSV in 2012 to their delisting in 2017, as an instructive case study in compliance. It analyzes areas of consensus and controversy—as well as promising practices and potential pitfalls—to guide the next phase of the agenda and contribute toward advancing Women, Peace, and Security objectives overall. In terms of the way forward, the chapter sets out key elements of a new compliance regime to repress violations and give real-time, real-world effect to the promise of “moving from commitments to compliance.” Mapping the dramatic evolution of this agenda over the past 15 years sets the stage for continually expanding the scope of protection, and delivering survivor-centered prevention and response measures, to address CRSV as a grave breach of international humanitarian law, a crime of international concern, and a threat to both individual rights and collective security.</jats:p>