Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, sadly there is a huge amount to talk about. There has been a deep escalation in the normalisation of misogyny and performative cruelty and violence around the world. I want to focus particularly on the incredibly concerning issue of violence against women in conflict, and the use of violence against women explicitly as part of conflict. It is something we have seen escalating, in a new era in which the narrative seems to be that anything goes in conflict. Of course, that is not the case. We have the Geneva Convention, we have rules. Even in conflict situations, we have lines that should not be crossed. Instead, we are seeing systematic targeting of women for sexual and reproductive violence around the world.

For example, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has found "systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other gender-based violence by the Israeli Security Forces since 7 October 2023". Along with the disproportionate impact of the destruction of Gaza on women and children, there were also direct "reproductive violence and harms"; "deliberate attacks on sexual and reproductive health care facilities" and the collapse of healthcare infrastructure; and a wide use of sexual and gender-based crimes against Palestinians including prisoners and civilians by members of the IDF, as an intention of retaliation and collective punishment. This is the finding of the independent commission.

The UN human rights committee has also published a report on the systematic violence committed against women and girls in Sudan, including "conflict-related sexual violence, abductions, and killings, many of which have been attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)".It has reported that "girls are facing escalating risks of gang rape, sexual slavery, trafficking, and forced marriage, particularly in Al Gezira, Sinnar, Darfur, and South Kordofan". Conflict-related sexual violence is reported as increasing by 50% in 2024 compared with the previous year. We saw the scenes from the El Fasher maternity hospital and the massacre there. Horrendous stories are continuing to come out of El Fasher.

In Congo, the director of humanitarian affairs at the UN reproductive health agency says that Congolese women and girls are enduring "tremendous suffering", with women dying every hour from pregnancy and birth-related complications. It is reported that there is widespread sexual exploitation, abuse and coercion in that country.

I would like if we could have a debate explicitly focusing on this targeting and abuse of women in conflict. We should also discuss the other side of it - the piece that seems to have fallen off the agenda in the focus on security - which is UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This resolution focuses on the positive role and voice women should be afforded in peace and the building of peace.