Curbing sexual violence in conflict is ?mission irresistible? for new UN envoy

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon?s newly appointed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict promised today a more coherent and effective battle against the scourge, citing recent mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and calling her new task "mission irresistible."

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Article Tools

Discuss

$Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallstr" border=1><p class=phtocaption>Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallstr"p></div><span class=fullstory>Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon"s newly appointed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict promised today a more coherent and effective battle against the scourge, citing recent mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and calling her new task "mission irresistible."<br><br> "Sexual violence against women is not cultural, it"s criminal. It"s not a women"s issue, it"s a human rights issue. It"s for both men and women to make sure that women have the right to their body," Margot Wallstr"a Swedish politician with a long history in defending women"s rights, told a news briefing in New York, citing the need to end impunity as a priority area. "Women carry half the sky, so they have to be valued that way."<br><br> Ms. Wallstr"as introduced by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro who said the new appointment was "a major step" towards protecting civilians subjected to sexual violence not only in conflict but also in post-conflict situations.<br><br> "Ending sexual violence in conflict situations remains a top priority for the Secretary-General who has called for increased actions by the international community to prevent violence, to protect individuals, to punish perpetrators, and to provide redress to victims," she added.<br><br> Today"s presentation came just a day after the UN Population Fund (<A HREF="http://www.unfpa.org/public/">UNFPA</A>) reported that more than 8,000 women were raped in the DRC during fighting between warring factions last year. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy told the briefing that such abuse was occurring not just in the DRC. "In most of our missions we have this extremely serious question of sexual violence," he said.<br><br> In the DRC the UN is combating the scourge by developing a greater presence on the ground, escorting women going to market or fetching firewood or water, developing early warning systems, and working with local mayors.<br><br> "At the same time, it is not enough," he added, noting that UN peacekeepers in all DRC numbered 20,000 soldiers while just the two war-torn eastern Kivu provinces, where most rapes occurred, had a population of 10 million people. "We cannot be behind" [every] tree." <br><br> Ms. Wallstr"aid the DRC would be one of the first places she would visit, but cautioned that her main challenge would be living up to all the expectations put in her given the breadth of the mandate and its limited length of only two years. "We"ll also have to create some success stories if you ask me," she added. "It is also obvious where the hotspots are, where everybody expects us to be present and to do as much as we can. Of course, the DRC is the obvious example"<br><br> "I will never be able to live up to all these expectations," she said. But, she added, "of course I feel honoured and humbled and excited. It"s a tough task and the mandate is short, two years, but it is mission irresistible to me at this moment." </div>  <div id="clear"></div> <div class="backtalk"><br><br>Source: UN News</div> <div id="clear"></div> <div class="bottomad"></div>  <div id="clear"></div> <div id="shared"> <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "> <a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a> <a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a> <div id="stumble"><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1"></script></div> <div id="digg_button"><a class="DiggThisButton DiggCompact" id="digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esperoforum%2Ecom%2Fa%2F27111%2FCurbing%2Dsexual%2Dviolence%2Din%2Dconflict%2Dis%2Dmission%2Dirresistible%2Dfor%2Dnew%2DUN%2Denvoy"></a></div> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a> </div> </div>  <div id="clear"></div> <div id="filedtags">Filed under <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag=geopolitics">geopolitics</a>, <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag="></a>, <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag= conflict"> conflict</a>, <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag= irresistible"> irresistible</a>, <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag= un"> un</a>, <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/subs.asp?tag=curbing sexual violence">curbing sexual violence</a></div> <div id="clear"></div> <div id="clear"></div> <div><span style="text-align:left;"><b class="more">Global</b> </span><span style="text-align:right;"><a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/rss_feed_subs.asp?idsub=128"><img src="http://www.speroforum.com/site/images/rss.gif" alt="RSS" width="27" height="14" border="0"></a></span></div> <style type="text/css"> /********************** Featured - Horizontal *************************/ .content_box {display: block;margin-top:20px;} .scrollArrows {float:right;margin-right:-30px;} .boxheading {font-size:23px;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;} #section_Featured .boxHeading {padding-left: 8px;} #featuredContent{margin: 5px 0px 0px 0px; width:590px;} #featuredContent{ overflow:hidden; overflow-x:hidden; padding:0; background-color:#EEEDE8; position:relative;} #featuredDisplayDiv{ width:1800px; /* keep this width */ position:relative;} #featuredDisplayDiv ul{padding:0;margin:0;list-style:none;} #featuredDisplayDiv li{float:left;width:160px;padding:10px 0px 10px 10px;} html>body #featuredDisplayDiv li{padding:10px 11px 10px 9px; width:174px;} #featuredDisplayDiv .Headline {font-size:18px;font-family:Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;position: relative; float: none; clear: both;} #featuredDisplayDiv .Headline a,#featuredDisplayDiv .Headline a:visited, #featuredDisplayDiv .Headline a:active {color:#000;} #featuredDisplayDiv .Headline a:hover {color:#ce0000;} #featuredContent .BlurbTxt {line-height: 15px;color:#333;font-size:12px;} #featuredContent div.summaryBlock {background-color:#FFF;clear:none;padding:10px 12px;overflow-y:hidden;border:1px solid #DFDFDF;overflow-x:hidden; height: 300px; width:184px;} #featuredContent .summaryBlock .more a,#featuredContent .summaryBlock .more a:active,#featuredContent .summaryBlock .more a:visited {font-family:Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;font-size:11px;color:#ce0000;} #featuredContent .summaryBlock .more a:hover {text-decoration:underline;} html>body #featuredContent div.summaryBlock {clear:none;padding:10px 12px;overflow-y:hidden;border:1px solid #DFDFDF;overflow-x:hidden; height: 283px; width: 160px;} #featuredContent div.summaryBlock img {width:160px;} #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .img01paddingL {float:none;margin: 0px;padding: 0 10px 0 0px;} html>body #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .img01paddingL {margin:0px;} #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .img02paddingL {float:none;margin: 0px 0px 0px -3px; padding: 0px;} html>body #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .img02paddingL {margin:0px;} #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .fortuneHeadline {margin-top:10px;font:bold 17px Times;} #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .fortuneEyebrow {letter-spacing:0px; margin-bottom: 8px;} #featuredContent #featuredDisplayDiv .fortuneDateStamp {display: none;} #scrollRightFeature {margin-right:30px;} </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.speroforum.com/js/jquery.pack.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery.noConflict(); // This will revert $ back to its original library </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.speroforum.com/js/scroll.js"></script> <div class="content_box"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.speroforum.com/js/scrollto.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">jQuery(function( $ ){$($

Featured

Pope Benedict says the world is threatened by the absence of God
more
Generation X may not so bad after all, says new study
more
McFaul: U.S. Likely To Meet Russia On New Syria Resolution
U.S. President Barack Obama's top Russia adviser has said that diplomats from Washington and Moscow will likely meet in the coming weeks to work on a new UN Security Council draft resolution targeting the Syrian government over its bloody crackdown on antigovernment protesters. more
Moscow Protesters Demand More Money For Russian Scientists
More than 500 protesters have gathered in Moscow's Pushkin Square to demand more government funding for science and scientists in Russia. more
Interview: How Much Do Western Europeans Know About Communist Crimes?
Anders Hjemdahl of the Stockholm-based Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism talked to RFE/RL about why Western Europeans seem to know so little about the communist past. more
French Prosecutor Drops Strauss-Kahn Case
The Paris prosecutor's office has dropped an investigation into a French writer's claim that former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her. more
Some Charges Against Russian Art Group Members Lifted
A prominent member of a Russian anarchist street-art collective who faced jail for overturning a police car has had the charges against him lifted. more
Slovak Parliament Approves EU Bailout Fund
The Slovak parliament has approved expanding the powers of the European Union's bailout fund. more
Czech Court Rejects Belarusian Extradition Request For Ex-Presidential Candidate
A Prague court has ruled that former Belarusian presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich should not be extradited to Belarus. more

Comments

Popular Right Now

Singer Whitney Houston, dead at 48
Sundered by drug abuse and a slumping career, the talented and once beautiful Whitney Houston has passed away.
Alyssa Bustamante, teen murderer, sentenced to life
The murderer faces the possibility of parole, and avoided confinement with adult criminals.
Life imitates art for drunken singer Randy Travis
Randy Travis, country crooner, sought solace at a local church following a fight with his girlfriend.
Teen murderer's diary reveals delight in killing nine-year-old girl
Alyssa Bustamante is awaiting sentence for the 2009 murder of a playmate.
Tone-deaf Obama reaps criticism for contraception mandate
Erstwhile Obama administration officials are holding back campaign support over the Chief Executive's decision to force Catholic hospitals to provide contraception for employees.

Popular Commentary

Obama adds insult to injury to Americans
Obama has put an end to the American Experiment
Hedonism has become America's official religion.
Obama has officially ended the American Experiment
Hedonism has become America's official religion.
On St Valentine's Day it is time to reflect on love
On St. Valentine's Day, let us examine our consciences and reflect upon our behavior towards others. Seek the source of Love.
Obamacare is about the lust for abortion
Obama would like nothing bettert than to force all religious institutions to provide abortion coverage. But the foremost issue is religious liberty.

New Reports

Singer Whitney Houston, dead at 48
Sundered by drug abuse and a slumping career, the talented and once beautiful Whitney Houston has passed away.
Growing tensions between Sudan and South Sudan
Obama may reach 'accomodation' over contraception mandate
Brazil to prosecute six men in connection with murder of native people
Guarani communities are frequently the target of Brazilian ranchers and foresters.
Vatican symposium on sexual abuse underscores reforms made by Pope Benedict

New World News

Singer Whitney Houston, dead at 48
Sundered by drug abuse and a slumping career, the talented and once beautiful Whitney Houston has passed away.
Pakistan: Short stories in Punjabi, to promote Christian values and common good
Fr. Mukhtar Alam has published a volume of stories of his mother. Stories that give "light" to those who are in the "dark" and teach the common good. At presentation, near the cathedral of Faisalabad, intellectuals, writers and leaders of the Church of Pakistan Muslim.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong, jobs emergency: workers shortage by 2018
One government study confirms need for 14 thousand workers by 2018 to maintain economic growth at current levels. Behind this there are restrictive policies on birth control imposed by Beijing and the decision not to give citizenship to those born in the Territory.
Myanmar: Monk Gambira, leader of the Saffron Revolution, free again
The authorities had yesterday detained him "for questioning". First released only a month ago, Gambira has spent the past three years in prison for leading protests by monks against the Burmese government.
India: Karnataka: Jesuits and schools targeted by Hindu nationalists
Three attacks since 2011 at St. Joseph's PU College, Anekal. The religious are accused of not having displayed the national flag on Republic Day, but the president has always denied this. Silence of police and authorities. Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): ...

RSS

Twitter

Facebook

Google+
Submit a tip
Advertise
Terms of use
Privacy Policy
Contact