IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 525 
Affirming the role of the United States in eliminating sexual violence in 
conflict. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 20, 2025 
Ms. MENG (for herself and Ms. SALAZAR) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Affirming the role of the United States in eliminating sexual 
violence in conflict. 
Whereas sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war 
throughout history, whether to subjugate, terrorize, or 
ethnically cleanse populations; 
Whereas the term ‘‘conflict-related sexual violence’’ refers to 
any form of sexual violence perpetrated against an indi-
vidual that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict, 
such as rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced 
pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced 
marriage; 
Whereas the occurrence of conflict-related sexual violence di-
rectly correlates with the resurgence of hostilities, mili-
tarization, the proliferation of small arms and light weap-
ons, mass population displacement, the rise of violent ex-
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•HRES 525 IH 
tremism, the collapse of the rule of law and social sup-
port systems, and a climate of impunity; 
Whereas conflict-related sexual violence has been considered 
a war crime, crime against humanity, and an act of geno-
cide and torture under international jurisprudence; 
Whereas, despite the numerous international resolutions, con-
ventions, and treaties, sexual violence continues to occur 
in many conflicts across the world with almost total im-
punity; 
Whereas recent conflicts have demonstrated that conflict re-
lated sexual violence remains a significant risk in any 
conflict and the United States Government has previously 
determined that armed groups have engaged in wide-
spread sexual violence; 
Whereas, in 2023, 3,688 verified cases of conflict-related sex-
ual violence were committed, representing a 50-percent 
increase from previous reporting; 
Whereas conflict-related sexual violence remains under-
reported due to social stigma, lack of accessible services, 
and the impunity of perpetrators. For each case of con-
flict-related rape that is reported, an estimated 10 to 20 
are not reported; 
Whereas, in 2023, women and girls accounted for 95 percent 
of the reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence; 
Whereas, in 2023, more than 1,470 cases were reported of 
conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated against chil-
dren, with many cases going unreported; 
Whereas 72 million children live near armed groups that per-
petrate sexual violence against them; 
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•HRES 525 IH 
Whereas sexual violence against children can be damaging to 
their physical and mental health, in the near- and long- 
term, and can prevent them from reaching their full po-
tential; 
Whereas conflict-related sexual violence is also targeted at 
men and boys, though high stigma leads to under-
reporting of conflict-related sexual violence against men 
and boys and a lack of recognition and sufficient support 
for survivors; 
Whereas an individual’s perceived sex, ethnicity, religion, dis-
ability, socioeconomic status, or displacement status may 
increase their vulnerability to becoming a target of con-
flict-related sexual violence; 
Whereas addressing the substantial gaps in the areas of pre-
vention, accountability, and compliance, are critical to 
promoting sustainable peace; 
Whereas many prescribed prevention measures, such as legal 
protections, codes of conduct for armed groups, early 
warning systems, and accountability measures are inad-
equately implemented and enforced; 
Whereas prevention measures should be considered a peace 
and security imperative that can help reduce the occur-
rence and reoccurrence of armed conflicts; 
Whereas access to safe and effective health care, protection, 
shelters, reporting mechanisms, are essential to meeting 
the needs of survivors, and preventing and responding to 
conflict-related sexual violence; 
Whereas rendering justice to survivors is a precondition for 
lasting reconciliation and peace to take hold; 
Whereas the lack of accountability for perpetrators emboldens 
them to strike again, perpetuating and encouraging vi-
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•HRES 525 IH 
cious cycles of sexual violence even when a country 
emerges from conflict; 
Whereas conflict-related sexual violence fosters global insta-
bility, exacerbates humanitarian crises, and hinders long- 
term peace, while effective prevention and response to 
conflict-related sexual violence makes the United States, 
and communities around the world, safer, stronger, and 
more prosperous; 
Whereas the United States recognizes that successfully pre-
venting and responding to conflict-related sexual violence 
requires meaningful participation of women in peace and 
security processes; 
Whereas the United States has served as a global leader in 
efforts to promote and elevate women’s participation in 
economic, civic, and security decision-making and peace 
processes; and 
Whereas, in 2015, the United Nations General Assembly pro-
claimed June 19 of each year the International Day for 
the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict to raise 
awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related 
sexual violence, to honor the victims and survivors, and 
to pay tribute to all those who have devoted their lives 
to standing up for the eradication of these crimes: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) affirms the leadership and commitment of 
the United States Government in efforts to prevent 
and respond to conflict-related sexual violence and to 
support and protect all survivors of conflict-related 
sexual violence; 
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•HRES 525 IH 
(2) recognizes that accountability for the per-
petration of conflict-related sexual violence is impor-
tant for comprehensive and lasting peace agree-
ments; 
(3) calls on the United States to ensure mecha-
nisms to hold perpetrators of sexual violence ac-
countable are included in peacebuilding resolutions 
and processes, and that women participate in such 
peace processes in accordance with the Women, 
Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115– 
68); 
(4) calls on the United States to commit to 
strengthening justice for all conflict-related sexual 
violence survivors; 
(5) stands in solidarity with the survivors of 
conflict-related sexual violence, and those working to 
support them, to ensure survivors are not forgotten 
and get the care they need and deserve. 
Æ 
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