UN expresses concern over sharp increase of sexual violence in conflict zones News
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UN expresses concern over sharp increase of sexual violence in conflict zones

The UN raised alarm on Thursday over the sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence in 2024, stating that “[m]ore than 4,600 survivors endured abuses used as weapons of war, torture, terrorism and political repression” throughout the year. The UN urged all involved parties to “adopt clear orders prohibiting sexual violence” and “ensure accountability.”

The UN secretary-general highlighted the use of conflict-related sexual violence across the globe in his recent annual report, noting the steep increase from the previous year. The report noted that sexual violence is used as a tactic by both state actors and non-state armed groups, including organized criminal groups, groups under sanctions enacted by the Security Council, and transnational criminal networks to gain control over territory and natural resources.

Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten stated, “The unprecedented severity and scale of destruction of healthcare facilities, and attacks, harassment and threats against frontline service providers, has severely hampered access to life-saving assistance for survivors.”

The report added that both state and non-state actors were responsible for sexual violence in 21 countries, with the highest numbers recorded in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Somalia and South Sudan. The UN listed 63 state and non-state actors credibly suspected of or being responsible for patterns of sexual violence in armed conflicts on the Security Council’s agenda.

The list incorporated new groups, including Résistance pour un Etat de Droit (RED) Tabara in the DRC, the Deterrence Agency for Combatting Organized Crime and Terrorism (DACOT) in Libya, as well as Hamas. The UN also added Israel and Russia “on notice” for potential listing in next year’s report. The UN noted that despite “significant concerns” about the conduct by Russian and Israeli  forces, it was challenging to make definitive determinations about the patterns, trends, and systematicity of sexual violence in Ukraine and the Occupied Palestinian Territory due to the denial of access for UN monitors.

This comes amidst the ongoing advocacy of the UN special rapporteur on torture, Alice Edwards, on recognizing sexual violence as torture. According to the UN expert, the Convention Against Torture “bypasses irrelevant questions of consent, recognises torture’s severity, and applies inclusively across genders and roles. bypasses irrelevant questions of consent,” providing stronger protection to victims. This is particularly significant as torture is considered a jus cogen norm which offers absolute protection in all circumstances.

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