S/2017/249 Recommendation 85. I call on the Government of Sri Lanka to continue to support the meaningful participation of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in the design and delivery of transitional justice, and to ensure that there is full accountability, including of security sector actors, to deter future crimes. I encourage sustained political resolve and resources for the implementation of national plans to combat sexual and gender-based violence and to support female-headed households. V. Other situations of concern Burundi 86. The onset of the political crisis in 2015 led to a pattern of crimes of sexual violence committed by members of the security forces, including the police, military and the ruling party’s youth league, the Imbonerakure. Following attacks on military camps in December 2015, 13 cases of sexual violence occurred as part of reprisals against communities perceived to support the opposition. In each case, security forces entered the victim’s home, separated women and girls from their family and subjected them to rape or gang-rape. Since then, the space for monitoring violations has drastically diminished. Service-providers indicate that addressing sexual violence by State forces may imperil their staff and operations. Since the Government suspended its cooperation with OH CHR on 11 October 2016, the United Nations has been unable to verify subsequent reports. For example, between August and November, 19 cases of sexual violence allegedly involving the police and the Imbonerakure were reported, but remain unconfirmed. Likewi se, hundreds of reports that children were raped during night patrols and house searches could not be verified. In 2016, such operations continued on an almost daily basis in areas perceived to be opposition strongholds. In that context, sexual assault may have served as a form of reprisal or persecution, often being accompanied by insults based on the victim’s perceived political or ethnic affiliation. 87. Female-headed households, adolescent girls, widows, internally displaced persons and returnees face a heightened risk of sexual violence/exploitation in a climate of impunity and economic fragility. Underreporting owing to stigma, insecurity and fear of retaliation is compounded where the perpetrators are part of the State security apparatus or are politically connected. Reports from service providers indicate that 518 incidents of sexual violence occurred in Burundi or during flight from the country in 2016. The Government has developed plans to fight gender-based violence and to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), and 2016 saw the adoption of new legislation on gender -based violence and the establishment of specialized gender-based violence chambers to fast-track cases. The Government is also piloting specialized police units on sexual and gender-based violence in several provinces. Recommendation 88. I call on the authorities of Burundi to facilitate human rights monitoring, including by resuming cooperation with OHCHR; to enable humanitarian actors and service providers to deliver assistance to sexual violence survivors, including 26/33 17-05090