Statement by the International Development Law Organization
63rd Session of the Human Rights Council
16 September 2026
Mr. President,
As the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively dedicated to promoting the rule of law, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) works in conflict and fragile settings around the world to strengthen justice institutions and expand access to justice.
Our experience shows that conflict exposes women and girls to heightened risks of violence and abuse, while weakening the very institutions they rely on for protection and justice.
The challenge is growing. In 2025, almost one in five women globally were living within 50 kilometres of a deadly conflict event, while the number of women living in conflict zones has nearly tripled since 1990.
In conflict and fragile settings, gender-based violence is more common and more severe. There, disrupted justice systems and service delivery make it even harder for survivors to seek protection, obtain remedies and hold perpetrators accountable.
Justice must therefore be part of both the immediate response to conflict and the path to recovery.
In Ukraine, IDLO has supported the prosecution service’s capacity in investigating and prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence as well as unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.
In Somaliland, IDLO-backed alternative dispute resolution centres referred more than 4,000 survivors of gender-based violence and other human rights violations to integrated legal, medical and psychosocial services.
The protection of women and girls cannot end when hostilities cease. IDLO calls on partners to sustain investment in rule of law and justice and prioritize women’s access to justice throughout conflict and post-conflict recovery.
Thank you.