UN steps up fight against sexual violence in conflict
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"Hundreds of women were raped, as were girls, boys and men. One elderly woman described her ordeal by saying, ‘Those boys who raped me could have been my grandchildren.' One young girl, just five years old, suffered such severe physical damage that she may never fully recover. We can only imagine the psychological trauma she now endures," the Secretary-General said.
Mr. Ban went on to note that the victims may survive these attacks only to be subjected to another form of abuse as sexual violence is one of the only crimes where the victims, and not the perpetrators, are left with stigma.
"This is true not only in the DRC but in other countries around the world. Victims are shamed and marginalized," he said. "Their husbands reject them. Men and boys who are sexually attacked often suffer isolation and discrimination. Just when these individuals need support from their communities, it falls away."
But Mr. Ban also used Walikale as an example of the successes concerted action by the UN, its partners and governments can have. Two months after the mass rapes, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in a joint operation with DRC government forces, arrested ‘Lieutenant-Colonel' Mayele, a member of the Maï Maï Cheka rebel armed group and allegedly responsible for commanding the atrocities.
"But many perpetrators are still at large," the Secretary-General said. "MONUSCO and the UN system are helping the DRC authorities to investigate the crimes, protect witnesses and bring perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Ban's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström, said today's resolution will help ensure that mass rape is never again met with mass impunity.
"Instead of serving as a cheap, silent and effective tactic of war, sexual violence will be a liability for armed groups. It will expose their superiors to increased international scrutiny, seal off the corridors," Ms. Wallström said. "The resolution the Council adopted today may not bring justice to every victim throughout the history of war – but it will help to ensure that conflict-related sexual violence no longer goes unreported, unaddressed or unpunished."
Also addressing the Council were the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, and his military affairs adviser Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye, as well as ambassadors from nearly 50 Member States.
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