Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General working to end war rape, speaks during a news conference in the capital Kyiv.
Standing with Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, she expressed solidarity with the survivors, saying they were not alone.
“My promise to you is that international law will not be an empty promise. Today’s document will be prosecuted tomorrow. And I want you to know that your rights don’t end when war begins,” she said.
“Women’s rights do not end when war begins. Your body is not (a) the battlefield and should never be considered part of the battlefield. ”
Intervention and support
Ms. Patten and Ms. Stefanishyna on Tuesday signed a collaborative framework to support the design and delivery of priority interventions in the areas of justice and accountability as a central pillar of containment. and prevention.
The agreement also covers the provision of comprehensive services to survivors, including sexual and reproductive health services, specialized mental health and medical services, legal aid and livelihood support.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Ms. Stefanishyna described sexual violence in war as “one of the most silent crimes”, noting the difficulty of gathering information on exact numbers.
“We started work today to gather this information using volunteers, working with medical facilities, and documenting these cases outside of criminal proceedings,” she said. speaking, through an interpreter.
Ms. Patten added that “We can’t expect accurate accounting on an active battlefield,” emphasizes that she is not waiting for hard data and statistics to act.
Services for men and boys
Although sexual violence mainly occurs against women and girls, Ms. Patten has also received reports of cases involving men and boys in Ukraine that the United Nations has yet to verify. .
“I am working with the different agencies of the United Nations to ensure that there are services that match the needs of men and boys, because everywhere in many conflict situations, I found that there was a lack of services tailored to the needs of men and boys,” she said.
Prevention of human trafficking
The framework with Ukrainian authorities also includes gender-responsive security sector reform, as well as combating conflict-related human traffickingin the context of increasing displacement.
More than five million people have fled Ukraine since the war began just over two months ago, creating the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II, according to the United Nations refugee agency. United Nations, UNHCR.
“It is a fact that conflict exacerbates vulnerability to human trafficking, and trafficking in Ukrainian women can be a dangerous byproduct of the refugee crisis,” said Ms. Patten. this conflict causes”, Ms. Patten stressed the need for mitigation measures.
UN photo / Loey Felipe
Pramila Patten, Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, summarizes the United Nations Security Council meeting on women and peace and security (file image).
No effort
The UN official also responded to a question about “extremely disturbing” reports of Ukrainian women being raped before being killed. She met the country’s Prosecutor General and said there was “solid” forensic evidence of such incidents.
“This is a very serious matter and the United Nations, through the framework of cooperation that we have signed, will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators to justice,” she said.
Ms Patten acknowledged that prosecuting cases of sexual violence during war comes with many challenges, adding it is “never easy”.
She reported on her meeting with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ukraine, who shared anecdotal reports.
“A representative of the NGO mentioned cases where the perpetrator was wearing a mask, so identification became extremely difficult,” she said.
Mrs. Patten said that “Whatever reports are emerging, they may only represent the tip of the iceberg.” highlights the need to focus on reporting.
‘Never repeat’
In this regard, she has also held discussions with the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights, which could set up “hubs” across Ukraine where people can report cases of sexual violence. and also receive medical, psychological and other support.
The availability of these safe spaces will also prevent those without the necessary skills from interviewing victims, which puts them at great risk of re-injury and re-victimization.
“We have to learn from other conflicts, with victims being interviewed more than 10 times, 15 times, with all the inconsistencies in the reports that make their case impossible,” she said. brought before the court of law.
“Every war we say ‘never happen again’. I think this time we have to say, “never again” and mean, and take the necessary action to bring justice to the victims of this sexual violence”.
The world is watching
Duties of the United Nations Special Representative established by Security Council more than a decade ago, to address conflict-related sexual violence as an issue of peace and security.
Ms. Patten said international human law clearly states that even war has limits and sexual violence is beyond the range of acceptable behavior even in the midst of hostilities.
“Wartime rape can no longer be dismissed as an inevitable by-product of war. It must be recognized by all parties as a preventable and punishable crime,” she said.
While deeply concerned about what she called the “shameful impact of being punished”, Ms Patten said it was important that “all parties and parties know that the world is watching.”
