24 Jun 2008 - The International Rescue Committee has hailed the U.N. Security Council's passage of a resolution that affirms that sexual violence against women and girls in conflict zones can be a war crime.
"It is gratifying to see that rape and other forms of violence against women have finally been identified by the Security Council as the appalling tools of war that they are," said Anne Richard, the IRC’s vice president for Government Relations and Advocacy.
"With its action, the Security Council recognizes that widespread or systematic sexual violence is an issue of international peace and security" Richard added.
All 15 members of the Security Council unanimously passed the resolution last week after a day-long debate called by the United States.
Security Council Resolution 1820 reflects the growing policy and legal framework to address violence against women in conflicts. It "demands the immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians with immediate effect."
While praising its successful effort to secure passage of the resolution, the IRC is now calling on the U.S government to support the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) introduced by key members of Congress, Senators Biden and Lugar and Representative Berman.
The IVAWA would make ending violence against women a U.S. foreign assistance and diplomatic priority for the first time in its history.
The IRC’s advocacy team has been assertively engaged in supporting and promoting this initiative with the U.S. Mission and lobbying other Security Council members in the preparatory and drafting stages.
Learn More
IRC Special Reports: Rape in Congo, Ending violence against women
Photo Blog: Helping women heal
