蘑菇视频

Laws influence behaviour. Robust laws are necessary not only to punish perpetrators of sexual violence but also to prevent new crimes and send a strong signal to would-be-perpetrators that it is no longer cost-free to commit such crimes.听

听Although over the past decades, many States have adopted or improved legislation to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict, significant gaps in legal frameworks persist.听听

Parliaments听can听play a critical role in shaping听prevention and response efforts听to sexual violence听through legislation, oversight processes, budget allocation and advocacy.听听

Firstly, Parliaments can adopt听comprehensive legislation that criminalizes听rape and other forms of听sexual violence听as a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constituent act of genocide; a transnational crime and a grave domestic crime.听听

Parliament can address the multiple gaps in听legislative frameworks听which听include lack of听provisions covering certain forms of听sexual violence such as听rape of men and boys; discriminatory clauses allowing the perpetrator to escape justice by marrying the victim; absence of victim and witness protection laws; and lack of provisions for reparations to survivors or to protect children born of sexual violence.听听

In addition to addressing these gaps,听Parliaments must听also听ensure that laws adopted are听survivor centered;听that they听recognize survivors as rights holders who听deserve听respect,听in addition to听physical and legal protection, holistic medical and psychosocial support, reintegration and rehabilitation services, as well as restitution.听It is commendable that听in March 2021, the Iraqi Council of Representatives enacted the 鈥淵azidi Survivors Law鈥�,听to听provide compensation and rehabilitative measures to Yazidi survivors of ISIL鈥檚 sexual violence and to other minority groups, such as Turkmen Shi鈥檃, Christian, and听Shabak听communities who faced similar crimes.听听

In addition to law reform efforts, Parliamentarians听need to听advocate for听adequate resource听allocation. In most of the conflict and post-conflict settings,听prevention and response to听conflict-related sexual violence are severely underfunded. In a context where听resources are being diverted to听the COVID-19 pandemic,听it is critical that听parliamentary budgetary plans include听specific appropriations听to address prevention and response听to sexual violence. Parliamentarians can also听advocate for听sexual and reproductive healthcare as an essential service, given lessons learned from past epidemics where more women died from lack of access to reproductive healthcare than from the disease itself.听听

Another critical role is parliamentary听oversight,听including听through inquiries into incidents of conflict-related sexual violence and governmental response. Parliaments听must听also oversee the implementation of Government鈥檚 obligations听under international and听regional treaties, to ensure听their听compliance.听听

听

~~~听

 

Ladies and gentlemen,听听

Partnerships are essential to this work. Parliaments鈥� engagement with survivors听as well as with听civil society organizations,听who are at the frontline of prevention and response efforts, can听give agency back to survivors and ensure that Parliaments have vital information when crafting legislation. Parliamentarians must also consider engaging influential religious and cultural institutions to eliminate the deeply rooted stigma that surrounds sexual violence.听听

I am convinced of the potential that parliamentary action can bring to this agenda. I am very pleased to announce that my Office and the IPU will be signing a Framework of Cooperation on 19 June, on the occasion of the International Day on the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. On this occasion, my Office will also launch听a Model听Legislative听Guidance听on conflict-related sexual violence to assist Parliaments and other stakeholders in听promoting听survivor-centered law reform efforts.听听

My mandate stands ready to cooperate with the IPU in ensuring that Parliaments resolutely combat conflict-related sexual violence.听听