Conflict-related sexual violence – Report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/413) [EN/AR/RU/ZH] – World

The Implementation of Resolutions on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Introduction

The present report, which covers the period from January to December 2022, is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2467 (2019), in which the Council requested me to report annually on the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2467 (2019), and to recommend strategic actions.

Sustainable Development Goals and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

1. In 2022, militarization and the proliferation of illicit arms escalated in the wake of unconstitutional changes of government, exposing civilians to heightened levels of sexual violence.
2. State and non-State armed groups continued to target civilians with rape, gang rape, and abductions.
3. Terrorist groups and criminal networks used sexual violence as a tactic, destabilizing fragile contexts.
4. Civilian demonstrations and protests were met with disproportionate use of force, including the use of rape as an instrument of repression.
5. Public health facilities were targeted, impeding access to services for survivors.
6. Sexual violence hindered women’s livelihood activities and girls’ access to education, generating profits for armed groups.

Patterns of Sexual Violence

• Patterns of sexual violence persisted and deepened in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, and South Sudan.
• Ukraine documented sexual violence as a form of torture and inhumane treatment against civilians and prisoners of war.

Impunity and Prevention

In most contexts, impunity remained the norm, while emerging threats in the digital space and the combination of climate insecurity, State fragility, and gender inequality exposed women and girls to conflict-related sexual violence. Upholding human rights responsibilities and building resilience are crucial for prevention.

Definition of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

The term “conflict-related sexual violence” refers to various forms of sexual violence perpetrated against individuals directly or indirectly linked to a conflict. This includes rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and other comparable acts.

Parties Involved and Accountability

The majority of listed parties involved in conflict-related sexual violence are non-State actors, including designated terrorist groups. National military and police forces listed are required to adopt specific commitments and action plans to address violations. Implementation of commitments is crucial for delisting parties.

Role of Women’s Protection Advisers

The deployment of women’s protection advisers has improved the monitoring and reporting of conflict-related sexual violence. However, the level of resources allocated to these positions is insufficient compared to the scale of the challenge.

United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict

The inter-agency network, United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, coordinates efforts to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence. The network supports projects in conflict-affected countries through a multi-partner trust fund. It also launched a framework for prevention and a white paper on private sector engagement.

Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict

The Team of Experts assists national authorities in strengthening rule of law institutions to enhance accountability for conflict-related sexual violence. It has provided support in countries such as Guinea, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan.

Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

The United Nations is committed to improving its response to incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by its staff and related personnel. Efforts are being made to strengthen the system-wide response and ensure full implementation of the zero-tolerance policy.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses issues related to conflict-related sexual violence, which is a violation of human rights and impacts gender equality and peace and security. Therefore, SDG 5 and SDG 16 are directly connected to the issues highlighted in the article.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
• SDG 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

The article mentions sexual violence, including rape, forced prostitution, forced marriage, and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated against women, men, girls, or boys in conflict-affected settings. These specific forms of violence align with the targets under SDG 5.2 and SDG 16.1. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice, which relates to SDG 16.3.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 5.2: Proportion of women and girls subjected to sexual violence by age and/or type of perpetrator
• Indicator for SDG 16.1: Number of victims of conflict-related sexual violence
• Indicator for SDG 16.3: Proportion of population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism

The article mentions the prevalence of sexual violence and conflict-related sexual violence in various countries and contexts. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the targets under SDG 5.2 and SDG 16.1. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of access to justice and mentions the role of formal and informal dispute resolution mechanisms, which can be measured using the indicator for SDG 16.3.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: reliefweb.int

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