The United Nations’ top human rights official, Volker Türk, has sounded the alarm on a disturbing rise in gender-based violence in conflict-affected countries, highlighting Haiti as one of the hardest-hit areas.
“Haiti is experiencing a dire escalation in sexual and gender-based violence,” Türk said this week, adding that his office has documented thousands of horrific cases across multiple conflict zones, including Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel, the occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, and Ukraine.
“This is a shameless repudiation of the basic rules of warfare,” he warned. “Fighters are being encouraged or instructed to victimise women, often as a deliberate weapon of warfare – to terrorise communities and force them to flee.”
Türk’s comments come as the UN marks 25 years since the Security Council passed its first resolution on women, peace, and security, which affirmed the vital role of women in preventing and resolving conflict and called for an end to impunity for sexual violence in war. While this agenda has since been reinforced by additional resolutions and backed by trials that held some perpetrators accountable, Türk said gender-based violence is rising, not falling.
“We are not meeting the minimum requirement to prevent women from being silenced, and support their participation and leadership in… building peace,” he said.
He also expressed concern over recent aid and funding cuts that are hampering the delivery of critical medical and psychosocial services for survivors. “The failure to provide these essential services leaves young girls and women alone, outcast and traumatised,” Türk said.
