In May, the Security Council will consider an initial strategic-level report from the UN Secretary-General which comprehensively reviews current ISIL operations and provides an assessment of United Nations efforts to support Member States in countering the threat. The report should integrate a cross-cutting gendered analysis, including by detailing the way in which women and men are recruited, trained and employed by ISIL throughout its operations, as well as subjected to a wide range of human rights violations. As previously reported in varying degrees of detail by the Secretary-General (S/2016/77, S/2015/819, S/2015/530, S/2015/203) as well as a wide range of international human rights organizations, sexual violence, slavery, abduction and human trafficking are central to ISIL’s operations, and the strategic-level analysis should include information on this aspect of the situation. According to reports by OHCHR, there is evidence that acts committed by ISIS could amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against ethnic minorities, and the report should include potential venues for accountability as well as the need to rescue the over one thousand women and girls still held captive. Additionally, the report should provide information and analysis on the way in which women are currently participating in efforts to combat and counter ISIL, as well as future plans by UN entities to ensure women and women’s civil society organizations are integral to local, national and regional efforts.