I have the honor to speak on behalf of Australia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and my own delegation Liechtenstein.

We wish to thank the delegation of the Philippines for their commendable work trying to find consensus on this resolution, including through the use of previously agreed language. The paragraph acknowledging the inclusion of gender-related crimes in the Rome Statute has been agreed by consensus by this Committee for the past two iterations of this resolution. We find it all the more regrettable that the Russian Federation has decided to call for the deletion of PP17.

Adopted in 1998, the Rome Statute was one of the first international treaties to extensively address conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence as crimes against humanity, war crimes and, in some instances, genocide. The International Criminal Court has issued landmark verdicts that have brought justice to victims of sexual and gender-based crimes and thus has a key role to play in ending impunity for gender-related crimes where national courts are unwilling or unable to exercise jurisdiction.

As strong supporters of the ICC and its work, we will vote Yes in support of the retention of PP17 and call upon all Member States to do the same.

I thank you.