Emmestyle

I had the chance to witness an incredibly emotional gathering at the United Nations Headquarters yesterday as a panel discussed how to increase UN awareness and prevention of sexual violence against women during war or armed conflicts.

"Sexual violence has been dismissed as random acts of individual soldiers. But in armed conflict, rape is also often a military tactic, service as a combat tool to humiliate and demoralize individuals, to tear apart families, and to devastate communities. Armed forces use sexual violence as the spoils of war for soldiers who see the rape of women as their entitlement. Lawlessness allows perpetrators to act with impunity and leaves survivors wit little to no recourse. The UN has a mandate to protect populations from sexual violence and to respond to the needs of survivors."

CNN anchor Isha Sesay lead the panel moderation where activist Eve Ensler, director of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and children and internationally acclaimed playwright; Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court; the UN Force Commander in Liberia and Sierra Leone, General Daniel Opande; and the Director of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, Sapana Pradhan Malla. In closing, the new UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes spoke of having three girls of his own and his committment to end the widespread rape during war times in the world today.

To learn more: Vday.org (reclaiming Peace 2007)

StopRapeNow.org