WUNRN
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From
Zonta - As we have heard in news reporting and reports from UN special
rapporteurs and special representatives, including those of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in
Conflict, about the abduction, rape, torture and murder of women and
girls, which has become a method of terrorizing people and forcing them to
leave their homes to survive. The atrocities faced specifically by women and
girls run rampant. If you agree with the statement, please send an email with
authorization to use the name of your organization on communications with the
UN system and member states in respect to this highly important issue. Leslie
Wright <leslieerwaywright@gmail.com> |
Statement on Women’s Rights and Non-State
Terrorist Groups
Background
Violence against women has been used in
conflicts throughout the known history of man. In
modern times, it has often been met with denial
and silence. It has seldom been mentioned
in our history books. Slowly, it is being
brought to light.
The United Nations has created understanding of
the need to protect women and girls during
conflict and post-conflict situations, and of
the role women must have in conflict resolution
and peace-building. The UN Security Council
‘Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and
Security’, adopted in 2000, was an important
milestone.
The United Nations depends on the support and
actions of its Member States.
Non-state extremist and terrorist groups create
new conditions. They move between
countries and act across national borders. UN
reports, including those of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for
Sexual Violence in Conflict, inform the
international community of an increase in the
abduction, rape and selling into slavery of
women and girls in conflict areas. In these
situations, violence against women is used to
degrade, humiliate and dehumanize people and to
actively displace them.
The so-called “Islamic State”, ISIS, is a
unique challenge. It is well-run, disciplined and
controls considerable territory. It combines a
narrow and selective interpretation of religious
rulings with sophisticated use of information
technology.
ISIS not only uses violence against women as a
tactic of terror and as means of economy but
makes it part of ideology. Violence against
‘infidel’ or ‘heretic’ women and girls is presented
as a justified act.
Statement
The international community must join efforts
to stop the systematic violation of women’s
human rights perpetrated by ISIS and other non-state
actors. It is not only a women’s issue
but also a complex emergency and a growing
threat to international peace and security.
Expressing concern and condemning the use of
sexual violence as ‘tactic of war’ is not
enough. It takes strong commitment and willful
action.
Zonta International is an organization pledged
to empower women at the global and local
levels, and to promote justice and universal
respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms.
Zonta International calls on the United Nations
and its Member States to commit to stop
violence against women in conflicts, and to
find effective short-term and long-term working
methods. Those may include to ·
*support
nations and regions with the will and capacity to stop the territorial expansion
of extremist and terrorist groups
*mobilize
humanitarian aid to refugees, counteract stigmatization of survivors of
violence and help them rebuild their lives
*develop response to violent forces in
cooperation with moderate religious leaders who understand the issues
*prevent
recruiting of group members through information and education, and through
social and economic initiatives, directed at those at risk
find ways to block the groups’ income sources
such as oil, natural gas, minerals and antiquities
*hold
perpetrators accountable for their crimes
*involve
affected countries in serious efforts to solve conflicts
*strengthen
the political will for implementing Security Council resolutions.
Zonta International
10 September 2015