The United States’ Vice President Kamala Harris launched the “Dignity in Documentation Initiative” at the White House, marking the “International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict” where she spoke of the gender-based violence in conflicts around the world including Israel, Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti and Iraq.
In recent years, the international community has made great progress on recognizing that the issue of conflict-related sexual violence is an attack on peace, stability and human rights.
“It is the responsibility of all of us – governments, international organizations, civil society and individual citizens – to actively confront conflict-related sexual violence and to work to rid our world of this heinous crime,” Harris said, “and to do what is necessary to hold perpetrators accountable.”
The initiative will support UN efforts to end conflict–related sexual violence as well as increase women’s leadership through the Women, Peace and Security Incentive Fund, among others.
In the days after the October 7th attack in Israel by Hamas, Harris said she saw images of bloodied Israeli women who were abducted to Gaza.
“Then it came to light that Hamas committed rape and gang rape at the Nova music festival and women’s bodies were found naked from the waist down, hands tied behind their back and shot in the head,” she added.
Harris said she heard stories from a former hostage of what she witnessed and heard in captivity, and she also met with a survivor who came forward with her account of sexual violence while she was held captive by Hamas.
“These testimonies, I fear, will only increase as more hostages are released. We cannot look away and we will not be silent,” Harris said. “My heart breaks for all these survivors and their families and for all the pain and suffering over the past eight months in Israel and in Gaza.”
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