2024-04-21 17:20:07
Sexual violence linked to conflicts “intensified” in 2023, according to a report by the United Nations (UN), released on Friday.
The document describes in particular the “sexual assaults” carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank and the “convincing information” about the rapes carried out by Hamas on hostages in the Gaza Strip.
“In 2023, due to the emergence of new conflicts and the escalation of existing ones, civilian populations were exposed to higher degrees of conflict-related sexual violence”, estimates the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in his annual report on this issue. subject.
Rapes, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancies, forced marriages… these forms of violence continue to “be used as tactics of war, torture and terrorism”, continued Guterres.
The UN Secretary-General was based on existing situations, namely in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Sudan, Mali and Haiti.
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Sexual assaults mainly affect women and girls
The victims are “mostly” women and girls, but “men, boys and people with different gender identities were also affected”, mostly in places of detention.
This is the case in the West Bank. “Information verified by the UN confirmed indications that Palestinian men and women detained by Israeli forces following the October 7 attacks are frequently targets of aggression, ill-treatment and humiliation, including sexual assault, such as kicking in the genitals and threats. of violation,” the report wrote.
The document also mentions “similar” violence carried out in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military after the launch of the ground offensive.
Regarding the accusations of sexual violence committed by Hamas, following the unprecedented attack on October 7th, the document reiterates the conclusions of the UN special representative, Pramila Patten, published at the beginning of March, after a trip to Israel.
Then, it was pointed out that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence, such as rape and gang rape, were committed in at least three locations” on October 7th and that “there are also “reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may continue” .
2024-04-21 17:20:07