Published Jun 1, 2026, 9:24 AM EDT
The UN cited verified abuses in Gaza and Ukraine as reasoning.
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Published Jun 1, 2026, 9:24 AM EDT
The United Nations has added Israeli and Russian forces to its annual blacklist of parties credibly suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence, placing both countries alongside dozens of governments and armed groups accused of using rape and other forms of sexual violence during armed conflicts. The designation appeared in the UN secretary-general's 2026 report on conflict-related sexual violence, which documents verified allegations of rape, sexual torture, forced nudity, genital violence, and other abuses committed in conflict zones around the world. The report added Israeli and Russian forces to the blacklist for the first time, citing verified allegations connected to the wars in Palestine and Ukraine. The blacklist identifies parties that the UN has determined are credibly suspected of patterns of conflict-related sexual violence. Inclusion does not create criminal liability or automatically trigger sanctions, though it carries significant diplomatic and reputational consequences and subjects listed parties to increased UN monitoring and reporting requirements.
