I would like to start by congratulating Hannah Rose for this exhibition and for her activism through art. In addition to be a powerful tool of social change, the healing power of art cannot be underestimated.

Thank you for sharing with all of us these portraits of Yezidi, Rohingya and Nigerian women. I had the opportunity to meet and interact first-hand with Yezidi, Rohingya and Nigerian women. I was in Iraq in March this year. Last year in July, I met with the Chibok girls in Abuja and other women and girls liberated from the grips of Boko Haram, living in camps in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria. I went to Cox’s Bazar twice – last year in November and this year in May and met with Rohingya women.

Today, through this exhibition, I see the portraits of survivors – portraits of women and girls who are seeking to regain control over their lives. These portraits remind me of the Chibok girls who shared with me their dreams of pursuing their education. And, indeed, they have all been admitted to the American University in Abuja. I see the shift from rape and shame to resilience of many Yezidis women thriving in an environment of safety, equality and opportunity in Germany or the Rohingya women who looked at me in the eyes and told me that they refuse to be defeated; they want their perpetrators to be brought to justice and they will not be silenced. Many of these women have transcended adversity and I truly feel inspired by their resolute tenacity.

However, as we celebrate resilience, let us not forget all those who don’t feel whole and healed; those who still wake up screaming in the middle of the night plagued by memories of their abuse; those triggered by a sound or a smell or place. Let us remember all those who remain broken beyond repair because the unfortunate reality is that healing doesn’t have a distinguishable end. These are the survivors who have helped me shape my strategic priorities for the mandate. It is for them that my fight against conflict‐related sexual violence has become a fight against impunity.

My first strategic priority is prevention and deterrence – namely reversing the culture of impunity into a culture of justice and accountability.

Prevention of sexual violence is my most important goal. This means both helping the victims and helping to ensure there are no more victims.

The international community spends far more time and resources responding to crises than preventing them. It is critical to rebalance our approach by upholding human rights, ensuring sustainable development and harnessing the power of the participation of women, which makes peace agreements more durable, societies more resilient and economies more dynamic.

Indeed, many of the atrocities inflicted on the bodies of these women could have been prevented if more had been done, early and collectively. I will continue, in my advocacy role, to urge the international community to give that agenda the investment and action it deserves, so as to replace horror with hope.

Another strategic priority for my mandate is the importance at all times of a survivor-centered approach as the face of the mandate is that of a survivor. Only a survivor centered approach can promote a survivor’s recovery and can empower the survivor.

A survivor-centered approach means prioritizing the rights, needs, and wishes of the survivor; ensuring that survivors have access to appropriate, accessible and good quality services including healthcare; psychosocial support; legal services and livelihood support especially in cases where survivors have been rejected by families.

I am placing a lot of focus on economic support which is critical to bolster their self-esteem and facilitate the healing process. Allowing survivors to seek legal redress is another important element of a comprehensive response.

I would like to conclude by thanking the Archbishop of Canterbury for hosting this exhibition. I also commend your important work on peace and reconciliation both as a religious leader and as a member of the High Level Advisory Board on “Mediation”. I particularly commend your strong advocacy on the importance of women’s and youth participation.

Thank you.