WUNRN
Direct Link to SR VAW Statement: http://www.wunrn.com/pdf/syria_3.pdf
STATEMENT BY RASHIDA
MANJOO – UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, ITS CAUSES &
CONSEQUENSES
“SYRIA – WOMEN SPEAK ABOUT
REALITIES”
Side event, UN Human Rights
Council 29th session, 22 June 2015
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates and Colleagues,
I would like
to thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief address, albeit through the
Secretariat supporting my mandate. I am sorry I cannot be here with you, but I
had to leave Geneva after the interactive dialogue last week.
First of all,
I would like to pay tribute to women’s rights human rights defenders and
activists, inside but also outside of Syria, who are tirelessly engaged on some
many different fronts to end this entrenched conflict and bring peace,
accountability and reconciliation to the country. These activists put their
lives at risk in the hope of achieving a free, inclusive and democratic Syria.
I commend the work they are undertaking in the public, political and private
spheres so that women will be able to claim full and equal participation at all
levels of decision-making, including in peace-building and recovery processes.
The ongoing
situation of internal conflict in Syria continues to contribute to significant
levels of instability, violence, internal displacement and rule of law
challenges. The problem of numerous manifestations of violence against women,
including sexual and gender based violence in conflict situations, requires further
attention, particularly in a context of on-going hostilities and conflicts. As
indicated in my reports and statements, violence experienced by women in
conflict situations is a reflection of the continuum of violence that is part
of their daily reality, but one that is exacerbated in times of conflict and
insecurity.
The
Independent International Commission of Enquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
states in its report that an alarming number of cases of sexual violence were
being committed in the country, including against women and girls who have been
abducted by armed groups in Iraq, and that they are being sold and re-sold in
Syria, while being held in sexual slavery. In addition, the Commission was
informed that women who sought to aid wounded or persons in need of
humanitarian assistance have been arrested, detained, tortured and killed for
“collaborating” with the armed opposition.
The Commission
also reported that boys and girls have been killed, injured, affected by
displacement, have lost relatives, and have witnessed the trauma of acts of
torture and death. Furthermore, women and girls have been subjected to rape and
sexual assault in Government detention facilities, and are also brutally
tortured and often left to die with no medical treatment for their wounds.
In addition,
according to the Commission, it was estimated that in March 2015, almost 3.9
million Syrians, most of them women, boys and girls, lived as refugees, mainly
in countries bordering Syria, such as Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq,
countries that have borne the primary responsibility of hosting a huge number
of refugees. It was also estimated that 6.5 million people may be internally
displaced.
I would like
to reiterate that it is the primary responsibility of the State to promote and
protect the human rights of women and girls, and to prevent and redress
violations of these rights. In this regard, the State bears the obligation to
pay specific attention to the gender-specific manifestations of human rights
violations, its causes and consequences, including forced displacement,
withholding of and lack of access to humanitarian assistance, loss of land,
property and livelihood and early and forced marriages, among others.
International human rights law and policy highlight the need
to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls,
including sexual and gender-based violence, in situations of armed conflict and
post-conflict, through investigation, prosecution and punishment of
perpetrators, in the quest to end impunity. It is also necessary to remove
barriers to women’s access to justice, to establish complaint and reporting
mechanisms, to provide support to victims and survivors, affordable and
accessible health-care services, as well as reintegration measures. Also, steps
must be taken to increase women’s participation in conflict resolution and
peacebuilding processes, in post-conflict decision-making forums, and in ensuring
that humanitarian law is responsively implemented to address women’s rights –
as per Security Resolution 1325, the Beijing Declaration and POA, and CEDAW
General Recommendation 30, among others.
In February
2014, my mandate sent a request to the Government to visit the Syrian Arab
Republic, which was accepted by the Government two months later. I had
suggested visiting the country in May 2014, but no response was received from
the Government. In an informal discussion with a representative from the Government,
I was informed that at the moment the situation does not allow for a visit.
However, I hope that my successor will be able to visit the country in the near
future. An official country visit will contribute and enhance dialogues among
the mandate holder, the Government and civil society in order to find common
solutions to improve women and girls’ life.
I thank you for your
attention and wish you a fruitful discussion.