Ms Louise Winstanley:

In addressing the issue relating to Colombia, I will provide some statistics in order that the committee can understand how prevalent conflict-related sexual violence was. The constitutional court in Colombia said that it was a systematic practice. Oxfam undertook two studies which show that between 2000 and 2009 there were 149 cases per day of sexual violence in armed conflict. When it then did a follow-up study in 2010 to 2015, it found that there were 400 cases of sexual violence against women in conflicts each day. What is worth noting here is that the second study showed that the increase occurred during peace talks. We know definitely that sexual violence in conflict and domestic violence is a continuum between this kind of violence. They are inextricably linked because of the kind of male attitudes which perpetrate this violence.

One of the things that the women particularly addressed during the peace talks and which they put firmly on the agenda was that there was a need in the transitional justice system to ensure that there were no amnesties for conflict-related sexual violence. This is the first peace accord in the world which stated that there should be no amnesties. One of the difficulties now is to completely ensure that there are no amnesties for conflict-related sexual violence.

One of the things that women are asking for in particular - this is really key at this moment because if the committee is going to visit Colombia, it is one of the asks that I would have - is that there be a discussion of the fact that there needs to be a national case in the transitional justice system on conflict-related sexual violence. This would be essential if we are to really see that there are no amnesties and that the issue of sexual violence is taken very seriously. If this does not happen, it is going to be very difficult to change male attitudes on violence towards women. This is a key ask that I would like to put on the committee’s agenda when it visits Colombia. I thank the committee.