Sexual Violence in War and Displacement Settings is Often Preventable

UNITED NATIONS, New York — Sexual violence in armed conflict and disaster settings can be stopped. What it will take is concerted action – by communities, local and national authorities, United Nations agencies, and local and international non-governmental organizations.

This was the message of a landmark international conference held here this week. Chaired by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the meeting brought together more than 40 experts in sexual violence prevention and treatment. Representatives of United Nations humanitarian agencies, peacekeeping missions, universities and foundations, local and international NGOs, as well as delegations from Guatemala and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, agreed to strengthen collaboration at all levels to end sexual violence in situations of conflict, post-conflict, displacement, and natural disaster settings.

“Violence against women is not inevitable. It can be stopped. It can be prevented and we need to do more,” stated UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid in her opening address.

Rape, sexual abuse and exploitation intensify during war and other emergencies, owing to the breakdown in law and order, abductions and combatant tactics that terrorize civilians. The impact of violence, especially rape, can be devastating. Physical consequences may include injuries, unwanted pregnancies, sexual dysfunction and HIV/AIDS. Damage to mental health may include anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicide.

The meeting served as the launch for an agreed set of guidelines for a coordinated approach to sexual violence prevention and care in emergency settings.

The guidelines are the latest step in an international effort to effectively prevent and respond to sexual violence in emergency settings. Developed by a coalition of United Nations agencies, academic institutions, and local and international NGOs, the guidelines outline a range of activities to be undertaken by a variety of actors working in different sectors. The activities include: putting women in charge of emergency food distribution to minimize the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse; working with displaced communities to make sure women are not vulnerable to attack on their way to latrines or to collect fuel wood; and providing medical care and psychological support for victims of sexual violence.

The meeting also took up the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers, including peacekeepers. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Permanent Representative to the United Nations from the Kingdom of Jordan and Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, spoke of his missions to various conflict and post-conflict countries and emphasized the need for accountability at all levels – from ending impunity for perpetrators to pressuring local and national authorities and senior officials in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions to take decisive action to prevent and punish crimes of sexual violence.

“Women and girls in post-conflict situations are facing a major justice deficit,” said UNIFEM Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer. “Having survived wars and conflict, they are living with gross injustices that fill their past and are haunting their present. We must break the cycle of violence in women’s lives and ensure that the UN is part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Contact Information:

Omar Gharzeddine, UNFPA, +1 212-297-5028, gharzeddine@unfpa.org or

Stephanie Ziebell, UNIFEM, +1 212 906-5082, stephanie.ziebell@undp.org