Law News
Stronger actions needed to prevent sexual violence
The United Nations and its partners on September 25 stressed that stronger actions and commitment are needed from world leaders to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and to secure justice for survivors of gender-based crimes.
“In conflict zones, women are disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and rights violations,” said the Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Michelle Bachelet.
“Access to justice means more than punishing the perpetrators. It means redress and reparations that enable women to recover losses, alleviate poverty and become full and equal members of society,” Ms. Bachelet told attendees at a high-level panel on sexual violence prevention held on the margins of the 67th session of the General Assembly in New York.
The event was jointly organized by UN Women, the United Kingdom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura, and the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict.
“For too long, conflict-related sexual violence has been largely 'cost-free' for those who rape women, children and men, whereas the cost and stigma have been borne by the victims,” said Ms. Bangura, stressing that even as survivors receive the care and services they require, countries must emphasize that sexual violence is not inevitable, but that the consequences for the perpetrators are. “This scourge can and must be eradicated.”
Source: UN News Service.
