ISLAMABAD: Pakistan told the United Nations on Tuesday sexual violence was employed as a “weapon of war” under foreign occupations, highlighting the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Indian-administered Kashmir, and calling for accountability for the perpetrators.
Speaking at the UN Security Council’s annual open debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the international community must act decisively against such abuses.
The ambassador noted this year marks the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, which recognizes the impact of armed conflict on women and the importance of their participation in peace processes.
He added that recent UN reports paint a grim picture of rising militarization, displacement and widespread sexual violence against civilians.
“Sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war, torture, terrorism, political repression and as a tool to consolidate illegal occupation of territories, as well as exploitation of natural resources,” Ahmad said in his statement. “The perpetrators must face justice, because impunity only emboldens abuse.”
