Conflict-related Sexual Violence: Report of the Secretary-General

By UN Security Council • March 13, 2014

The present report, which covers the period from January to December 2013, is submitted pursuant to paragraph 22 of Security Council resolution 2106 (2013) , in which the Council requested me to submit annual reports on the implementation of resolutions 1820 (2008) , 1888 (2009) , 1960 (2010) and 2106 (2013) with regard to conflict – related sexual violence. The report presents information on parties to conflict credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence. The term “ conflict – related sexual violence ” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced sterilization and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men or children with a direct or indirect (temporal, geographical or causal) link to a conflict. This link to conflict may be evident in the profile of the perpetrator, the profile of the victim, the climate of impunity or State collapse, any cross – border dimensions or violations of the terms of a ceasefire agreement. While conflict – related sexual violence may be present in several contexts not mentioned in the current report, the following outlines those countries in which credible information is currently available, including situations of emerging concern.

The report highlights actions taken and challenges faced by States in conflict and post – conflict situations to protect women , men and children from such sexual violence; the implementation of the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements; the deployment of women ’ s protection advisers; the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict; the efforts of the United Nations system; and recommendations to strengthen efforts to combat this egregious crime.

In the report, appropriate actions are recommended and a list of parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of r ape and other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict on the agenda of the Security Council is contained in the annex.

The report should be read in conjunction with my previous reports on the same topic (A/66/657-S/2012/33 and A/67/792-S/2013/149). Preparation of the report involved consultations with the 13 United Nations entities that are members of United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations field missions and country teams, concerned Member States and non – governmental organizations. United Nations peacekeeping and political missions, as well as country teams, were the primary sources of information. In the present report , reference is made to the nature and scope of sexual violence in 20 countries.

Myanmar

37. Incidents of sexual violence continued to be reported in Myanmar during 2013. Reporting is limited because of access restrictions for humanitarian and human rights actors in conflict -affected areas and because formal reporting protocols discourage many survivors from seeking assistance for fear of police involvement, negative repercussions, compromised confidentiality and stigma. Sexual violence has nonetheless been associated with targeted violence in Rakhine St ate and in non-State ethnic armed conflicts in Kachin State and northern Shan State. In these states, overcrowding in camps and shelters for internally displaced persons raises the risk of sexual violence and abuse, particularly for single females and fem ale- headed households. Conflict -affected women and girls in camps for internally displaced persons are also at risk of being trafficked, often by so -called “brokers”, to neighbouring countries for the purposes of forced marriage and sexual exploitation. Regional and local government offices have limited capacity to lead, manage and coordinate emergency programming. Local non -governmental organizations are able to access communities of internally displaced persons but generally lack the capacity to deliver h ealth-care and psychosocial support services consistent with international standards. A lack of access to formal justice mechanisms for rape survivors often results in the mediation of sexual violence cases by camp leaders.

38. In Kachin State, assessments carried out in February and March 2013 found that women and girls were at risk in both government -controlled and non-government- controlled areas. Also in Kachin State, since September 2013 there have been increased reports of sexual violence, including th e rape of girls as young as 7 years of age, incidents involving multiple perpetrators and the involvement of armed actors and uniformed services. In northern Rakhine State, ongoing tensions between host communities and internally displaced persons and rela ted threats against humanitarian actors have compromised service provision outside camps for internally displaced persons. Psychosocial counselling and medical services in northern Rakhine State are extremely limited and local state -run structures are ofte n unwilling to provide services to internally displaced Muslims. To gain access to urgent health services, the Rohingya population is limited to a hospital in Sittwe, which has minimal capacity for sexual violence case management and to which humanitarian actors do not have access. Access to justice is also limited for those unable to prove their citizenship.

39. In his report of 23 September 2013 ( A/68/397), the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar stated that, with respect to abuses perpetrated in Rakhine State, including rape and other forms of sexual violence, the obligations of the State to fully investigate and hold perpetrators to account had not been met. The Special Rapporteur rec ommended the amendment of constitutional provisions to provide better accountability and civilian oversight over military tribunals. In respect of the findings in the report of the Special Rapporteur, the Government of Myanmar cites the prosecution of susp ects in six cases of sexual violence committed by military personnel or deserters in Rakhine, Kachin and northern Shan States through military and civilian courts. The Government notes that it has undertaken capacity-building efforts for the armed forces, including on human rights and the prevention of sexual violence. It also highlights the signature of ceasefire agreements with most ethnic groups and the expected signature of a nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Recommendation

40. I call on the Government of Myanmar to fully investigate and respond to current and historical human rights violations and abuses, including crimes of sexual violence. I urge the Government, with the support of the United Nations and its partners, to work to develop a comprehens ive protection and service response for survivors.

View the full report here

Tags: Burma Army, Sexual Violence, UN Secretary-General, UN Security Council, Women Rights

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Conflict-related Sexual Violence: Report of the Secretary-General

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