Under the slogan of “conflict-related sexual violence: shifting from commitment to compliance”, the United Nations (UN) Security Council discussed, last Friday, the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, the registered deficiencies in justice and reparations.
Through an overview presented by of the UN Secretary-General’s assistant on sexual violence in armed conflict, Pamila Patten, of some of what was stated in the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, she said that “The Secretary-General’s report, presented before us today, revealed a bleak and frightening picture of sexual violence used as a method of warfare, torture and terrorism as well as an instrument of political repression, in order to demilitarize the population, destabilize it and forcibly displace it.”
“Despite many measures taken, there are still significant gaps, especially when it comes to accountability, access to justice and reparations”, Patten said.
The report documented 3.000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence committed over a span of one year in 19 countries.
The same report also showed that 89% of the victims are women and girls, and that violations have also affected men, youth, and members of the LGBTQI+ community. The report also verified 848 child abuse cases.
The report stressed the necessity of taking an approach that focuses on survivors as expressed by the Security Council for the first time in its resolution 2467 of 2019, an approach that addressed the root causes of ensuring that no one is left behind or that one of the peace and development gains gets excluded.
Speaking of sexual violence, the Assistant Secretary-General said that “It is a crime that tears the fabric connecting societies, leaving social cohesion and shabby safety nets. It is a biological weapon, psychological weapon, and an expression of male dominance over women and the domination of one group over another.”
She emphasized that conflict-related sexual violence is a crime that impedes gender equality and peace.
Patten added that “These are interlinked issues: more equality means greater social stability, and vice versa.”
Patten finally noted that every report on wartime rape does not go through, which is linked to the fear of stigma, revenge, shaming and victim-blaming behavior.
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