A/HRC/RES/23/25 7. Calls upon States to ensure that all forms of rape and sexual violence are criminalized in national law and to take appropriate legislative and policy steps to ensure the prompt and adequate investigation, prosecution and accountability of perpetrators, including by strengthening the capacity of the criminal justice system; 8. Urges States to ensure that national laws and policies are in compliance with their international human rights obligations and are non-discriminatory by, inter alia, permitting prosecution of marital rape and repealing provisions that require corroboration of testimony, enable perpetrators of rape to escape prosecution and punishment by marrying their victim, and subject victims of sexual violence to prosecution for moral crimes or defamation; 9. Affirms the need for States to take practical steps to ensure women’s access to justice, including by creating an enabling environment where women and girls can easily report incidents of violence, including sexual violence, through, inter alia, victim services, testimonial support and the possibility of publication bans, by improving victim and witness protection, protecting confidentiality and privacy rights, and providing law enforcement officials and first responders with human rights training; 10. Underscores the importance for States to address all health consequences, including physical, mental and sexual and reproductive health consequences, of rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls by providing accessible health-care services that are responsive to trauma and include affordable, safe and effective treatment; 11. Calls upon Governments, in cooperation with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and other civil society actors, as appropriate, to address the long-term consequences faced by victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence, including legal discrimination and social stigmatization, as well as the effects on children born as a result of rape or who witness such violence; 12. Stresses the need for States and relevant United Nations agencies to ensure that measures to provide protection to victims and witnesses of rape and other forms of sexual violence extend to and address the specific needs of those most vulnerable to these forms of violence, including indigenous, disabled, refugee and internally displaced women and girls, women in custody, women and girls forcibly recruited by armed forces and armed non-State actors, and trafficked women and girls, including those forced into sexual exploitation and slavery; 13. Underlines that, in situations of peaceful protest, civil unrest, public emergency or political transition, States must continue to take all necessary measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual violence, and must ensure that such acts, whether or not committed by State or nonState actors in the course of achieving political or military objectives or, as a means of intimidation or repression, are promptly and effectivelyinvestigated and, if grounds for it are established, prosecuted; 14. Condemns all acts of sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking of women and children by military, police and related civilian personnel, including those involved in United Nations operations, and affirms the need for personnel-contributing countries to continue to take all appropriate action necessary to combat these abuses by such personnel, including by ensuring that appropriate training is provided, that any allegations of rape or other forms of sexual violence against any such personnel are investigated and prosecuted, and that perpetrators are held accountable; 15. Calls upon States to demonstrate their commitment to preventing sexual violence by promoting and protecting women’s human rights and the equal participation and full involvement of women in society and by ensuring that women are active 4