U.S. Boosts Effort To Stem Sexual Violence In War Zones

The Biden Administration is strengthening U.S. policy aimed at stemming sexual violence in war conflict zones, which has been increasingly documented in Ukraine and elsewhere, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Biden on Monday signed a memorandum that seeks to combat the use of rape by both foreign governments and individuals as a weapon of war.

"The United States does not accept conflict-related sexual violence as an inevitable cost of armed conflict and is committed to supporting survivors of this scourge by invoking all tools available, including legal, policy, diplomatic, and financial tools, to deter such violence, break the vicious cycle of impunity, and provide the necessary services to survivors," reads the presidential memorandum.

The U.S. has numerous frameworks, including laws and policies, through which to respond to and address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), but more action is required to use them fully and in a manner that responds to the full scale of this problem, a senior administration official said in response to TURAN's questions.

These efforts to address impunity and increase accountability for conflict-related sexual violence will complement a broader, holistic approach to preventing and responding to this scourge, which includes advancing gender equity and equality; prioritizing the immediate needs of survivors; and amplifying survivor voices in transitional justice, the provision of services, and peace and political processes.

The new policy sets out to direct the State and Treasury departments and other agencies to give equal consideration of acts of sexual violence to other serious human rights abuses in leveraging sanctions and other punishment against foreign actors and to respond to the fullest extent possible.

To further demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment to supporting survivors and all forms of gender-based violence, the U.S. has also pledged to the followings:

- Strengthen support to the UN special representative to the secretary general on sexual violence in conflict;

- Bolster civil society efforts to investigate and document CRSV;

- Deliver services and support for survivors of gender-based violence in emergency and conflict settings;

- Increase access to justice, protection, and services to survivors of gender-based violence, including CRSV

Biden's action comes when the United Nations has warned that sexual violence in Ukraine, especially against women and girls, remains prevalent and underreported.

"In solidarity with brave survivors of sexual violence, we urge all countries to take a firmer stand against these horrific acts of violence," U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield tweeted on Monday following Biden's memorandum.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.