On the 25 November, International President Ann Garvie was
invited to speak on the ‘Targeting of Women in War’, alongside the UN Special
Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Ambassadors of Mexico and
Norway, at the UN in Vienna. Ann spoke on the importance of this issue, and
provided a voice from the grassroots.

 

“The
importance of the Soroptimist ‘Three E’ model of ‘Educate, Empower, Enable is
vital for involving women and girls in conflict reconciliation. Currently 4% of
women are involved, and the UN Security Council has recommended it should be at
least 40%. Women can make lasting, peaceful changes in their communities and
must be included in seeing an end to sexual violence in war and conflict. We’ve
got the tools we need to end this atrocity, and it’s time we got on with it!”.

 

Read International President Ann Garvie’s speech below:

 

"Excellencies, Chair, Guests

Soroptimist International, a global voice for Women in 130
countries and 80,000 members, participated in the Global Summit in London, June, to raise the profile of the violation of women in conflict; an unacceptable
act of violence.

Soroptimist International is aware that under international humanitarian law there is a long standing prohibition of sexual
violence in armed conflict. It should go without saying that sexual violence is
the most serious form of violation or abuse of an individual’s human rights.

Sexual violence in conflict is illegal, nationally and
internationally.

Soroptimist International demands those governments who
have not signed the Declaration of the Commitment to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict to do so.

Soroptimist International lobbies and advocates for
governments, the United Nations and Civil Society to insist that the rhetoric
ceases and the Declaration is implemented to ensure that Sexual violence
committed in conflict ceases because such violation is unacceptable.

Civil Society can no longer watch whilst governments and
the authorities do not act to cease the violation of Sexual Violence as a
Weapon of War.

We must engage women, girls, men and boys to cease this
violation and to achieve gender equality, which is a human right for all members
of human-kind and to make equality a reality.

We must increase the number of women, by more than 40 percent, who are involved in negotiating conflict resolution, currently 4 percent, and to
provide victims with psychological support and micro credit to enable them to
economically rebuild their lives .

Soroptimist International, in partnership with Project
Independence has done this for more that 1000 victims of war".

 

"Tackling sexual violence in conflict
requires comprehensive, collective action to PREVENT, PROSECUTE and
PROTECT communities and survivors" The International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict.  

 

It has been agreed at all levels of international law that
sexual violence in armed conflict is illegal. It is possible to prosecute
sexual crimes in war as crimes against humanity and as war crimes. There are an
increasing number of investigations and prosecutions but it is still not
enough. The perpetuation of gender stereotypes, the nature of war and the
problem of limited resources available to investigate and prosecute sexual
crimes in war, all mean that women are unable to access the health care,
services and support that they need. Furthermore, the perpetrators of these
crimes live with impunity, often in the same communities as their victims.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by these
crimes. Their bodies become a new battlefield in war. Sexual violence in war is
used as a tool to take control of that person, to mark ownership over them, and
to destroy their identity. It is used to control and dominate victims, their
families and communities. These crimes are rightly considered to be
unacceptable, but we cannot only speak of their horror, we must act to make
them stop.

There is a way for the international community, governments,
legal institutions and professionals, NGOs, and civil society to work together
to see an end to these crimes. For Soroptimists, the way forward is to develop
and implement Regional and National Action Plans, in line with UN Security
Council Resolution 1325.

National Action Plans are envisaged as being able to
coordinate the activities of all individuals and institutions that act within,
and for, a state in relation to sexual violence and the targeting of women in
conflict. Regional Action Plans only promote this further as they facilitate
the sharing of gender-based expertise and resources. Regional and National
Action Plans should include:

·        
Better, more timely and comprehensive provision
of assistance and care.

·        
Ensuring national military and police doctrine
and training is in accordance with international law.

·        
Encouraging and improving the safe and ethical
collection of data and evidence relating to acts of sexual violence in conflict,
in accordance with the International Protocol on the Documentation and
Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

·        
Supporting the deployment of national and
international expertise at the request of host governments, the UN and other
international organisations to help build national capacity and hold
perpetrators to account.

Governments and international organisations must be ready to
listen to the voices of grassroots organisations in the establishment of
policies and practices that aim to bring an end to the targeting of women in
war. It is organisations, like Soroptimist International, who know the
experiences of women on the ground, and who can express their needs.

International
law is one of the most powerful tools to bring an end to these crimes and the
targeting of women in war. But all too often women and girls are let down
because words are not made into actions. International law and best practice
can provide the practical framework to end impunity, and to implement the
support structures to help women become survivors. Regional and National Action Plans will help give international law the
practical teeth it needs.

 

The SI Advocacy Focus on sexual violence in conflict provides
you with a toolkit to help lobby your governments to take action. National and
Regional Action Plans and practical and effective ways for governments to bring
an end to the atrocity of wartime sexual violence. The advocacy pack informs
you about sexual violence in conflict, what your government has done to prevent
it, and provides you with a lobbying letter template to get them to do more. Click here to read more.

 

 

 The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict is running a teach-in @stopRapeCmpgn on 3 December 2014. Click on the image above for further information.