International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict by UN News, MSF, OHCHR, agencies 5:13pm 31st May, 2021   International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict - Statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres:    Sexual violence in conflict is a cruel tactic of war, torture, terror and repression. It reverberates down generations, and threatens both human and international security.    In places affected by conflict, the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult to hold perpetrators of sexual violence to account.    At the same time, survivors face new obstacles to reporting crimes and accessing support services.    Even as we respond to the pandemic, we must investigate every case, and maintain essential services for every survivor. We cannot allow this already underreported crime to slip further into the shadows. Perpetrators must be punished.    Investment in recovery from the pandemic must tackle the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence.    On this International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, let’s resolve to uphold the rights and meet the needs of all survivors, as we work to prevent and end these horrific crimes.    “Conflict-related sexual violence” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict. The term also encompasses trafficking in persons when committed in situations of conflict for the purpose of sexual violence or exploitation.    A consistent concern is that fear and cultural stigma converge to prevent the vast majority of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from coming forward to report such violence. Practitioners in the field estimate that for each rape reported in connection with a conflict, 10 to 20 cases go undocumented.    UN Women expresses its grave concern at the continued use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, terrorism and political repression and calls on all parties to conflicts to commit to ceasing such acts.    Sexual violence in conflict disproportionately impacts women and girls and causes grave and lasting harm to survivors, their families and their communities, posing major barriers to peace and development.    The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed women and girls in conflict and crisis settings to sexual violence and has exacerbated existing barriers to survivors’ access to multisectoral services and justice.    This makes our efforts to promote gender equality and achieve peace, as well as just and inclusive societies, all the more urgent and relevant.    The best way to address any type of human rights violation, including sexual violence in conflict, is to prevent it from happening in the first place, which is why it is crucial to address gender inequality as a root cause of this scourge.    As the world plans its recovery from the pandemic, we need to take an inclusive, intersectional and informed approach, one that recognizes that achieving durable peace and prosperous societies is not possible without women’s expertise, meaningful participation and leadership.    * UN Resolution (A/RES/69/293): On 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.    http://www.msf.org/thousands-survivors-sexual-violence-need-physical-and-psychological-care-drc http://www.msf.org/sexual-violence http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2021/8/611618344/unhcr-gravely-concerned-systematic-sexual-violence-dr-congos-tanganyika.html http://panzifoundation.org/the-crisis/ http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/08/ethiopia-troops-and-militia-rape-abduct-women-and-girls-in-tigray-conflict-new-report/ http://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/ http://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/report/conflict-related-sexual-violence-report-of-the-united-nations-secretary-general/SG-Report-2020editedsmall.pdf http://bit.ly/2URrMVo    Nov. 2021    Do more to support children born of rape in armed conflict and their mothers, UN committees urge States. (OHCHR)    Children born as a result of rape committed in armed conflict must be given better help and support, while women who survive sexual violence require comprehensive protection by the State, two UN committees urged in a joint statement.    "Children born of rape in the context of armed conflict and their mothers are stigmatized, isolated, and deprived of resources. They face discrimination in many ways and on many fronts, as well as marginalization by their own communities," the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Child Rights Committee (CRC) said.    The Committees noted these children often do not have their births registered, and this lack of official documentation in turn often affects their right to a nationality.    "These obstacles can adversely affect a child's human rights, continuing into adulthood, as they can encounter huge problems integrating into society," they added.    The two committees called on States parties to comply with their obligations under both the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.    Given the risk of children being rendered stateless, the Committees urged Governments to ensure that children born of rape are registered with a nationality. "In addition, abandoned children should have access to care services," the Committees stressed.    The Committees also highlighted the high levels of violence to which girls are often subjected in conflict situations. "States parties should make all efforts to rescue girls who have been abducted, ensure their integration into society and provide them and their families with access to psychosocial and other rehabilitation services," they said.    CEDAW and the CRC called for accountability for all forms of gender-based violence against women and children, including sexual violence and exploitation, sexual slavery, domestic servitude, child and forced marriage, as well as the recruitment and use of children during insurgencies and in other slavery-like practices.    They also emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of women and children as central pillars for building and sustaining peace in societies.    CEDAW and CRC are collaborating with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict to support the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security/sexual violence in conflict.    http://www.ohchr.org/en/women/womens-human-rights-and-gender-related-concerns-situations-conflict-and-instability http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/6/statement-un-women-day-for-the-elimination-of-sexual-violence-in-conflict http://bit.ly/3ernJWV http://theconversation.com/uk/topics/sexual-violence-in-conflict-10963 Visit the related web page
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