“Absent from ceasefire agreements, not subject to disarmament programmes, and rarely mentioned at the peace-table, mass rape is a war tactic that lingers long after the guns fall silent.”1 The last decade shows alarming figures: 250,000–500,000 women and girls were raped during the genocide in Rwanda, 20,000–50,000 women and girls were raped during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, an average of 40 women and girls are raped every day in South Kivu, Congo2.
To help combat this growing atrocity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently appointed Margot Wallström as his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. This new position (lobbied for by NGOs and called for in resolution 1888) was created to focus international action and to ensure a more effective prevention of and response to such crimes.
Ms Wallstöm commented: “Violence against women is the most common but least punished crime in the world…In far too many parts of the world women are excluded from the decision-making process and from conflict resolution and peacekeeping. This absolutely has to change and I am determined to play my part in making that change happen.”
A clear understanding of the root causes of rape in conflict is essential, including the myths that fuel this violence and the availability of the weapons that facilitate it. It is hoped that Margot Wallström will find a way to address these issues and that she will help empower women and fight impunity.
IFUW has adopted several resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. What can IFUW do to help advance the work of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict?
For more information and for action ideas: www.stoprapenow.org (UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict)
The UN announced during this years CSW meetings its appointment of a group of independent experts to advise on ways to better protect women in conflict situations, and to ensure that their voices are heard in peace processes and that they are included in post-conflict reconstruction and governance structures. The establishment of the group comes as the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on the role of women in peace and security marks its tenth anniversary in 2010.
Among other things, the group Рwhich will be co-chaired by former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarit̩, Bineta Diop Рwill be tasked with assessing the impact of resolution 1325 on women in the context of armed conflict over the past decade.
Resolution 1325, which was adopted by the Council in 2000, stresses the importance of giving women equal participation and full involvement in peace and security matters and the need to increase their role in decision-making.
“Our advisory group is made up of individuals with long experience in addressing conflict situations,” said Ms. Robinson. We will be consulting with civil society organizations around the world and looking at a range of possible ways forward, including scaling up resources dedicated to protecting women in times of conflict as well as involving them more in building lasting and just peace.”
The group will also help identify time-bound goals and targets, along with measurement and accountability mechanisms to inform and guide the work of a UN High-Level Steering Committee set up by Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro.
Other members of the group are: Salim Ahmed Salim (Tanzania), Elisabeth Rehn (Finland), Lahkdar Brahimi (Algeria), Hina Jilani (Pakistan), Sanam Anderlini (Iran/United Kingdom), Thelma Awori (Liberia/Uganda), Swanee Hunt (United States), Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls (Fiji), Susana Villaran De La Puente (Peru), Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda (Zimbabwe), Zainab Salbi (Iraq/US) and Donald Steinberg (US).
IFUW and NFAs should take the opportunity offered by taking part in consultations with this group