A recent report by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramilla Patten, falls considerably short of the standards expected of a UN human rights report and does a disservice to the victims of sexual violence, argues Ahmed Motala, a former UN investigator.
Sexual violence during conflict is, unfortunately, a common and abhorrent phenomenon, and the overwhelming majority of victims/survivors are women and girls.
Beyond the physical and psychological harm, such heinous acts are intended to destroy the dignity of the victims and have a lasting impact on the entire community.