UN Adds Israel and Russia to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Blacklist
#GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #Current Events #International #GS-1 #Indian Society #Women #Social Justice
Why in News
- The United Nations recently added Israel and Russia to its blacklist for conflict-related sexual violence.
- The UN had already placed Hamas on this list after the October 2023 attacks that started the Gaza war.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
- This term includes rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, and forced sterilization during conflicts.
- Global bodies recognize these acts as serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
The UN Blacklist
- The UN Secretary-General publishes this blacklist as part of an annual report on sexual violence in conflicts.
- The list names specific groups and countries suspected of carrying out or allowing patterns of such violence.
Impact of Listing
- Getting placed on this blacklist does not automatically trigger global sanctions against the country or group.
- However, it causes serious damage to their reputation and can stop repeated offenders from joining UN peacekeeping operations.
Israel's Inclusion
- The UN report confirmed 31 cases of sexual violence involving Palestinian men, women, and children between 2023 and 2025.
- These incidents allegedly took place in Gaza and the West Bank during detentions, interrogations, and military operations.
Russia's Inclusion
- The UN listed Russia for committing conflict-related sexual violence during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- The report attributes these human rights abuses directly to Russian armed forces and security personnel.
Global Scale of the Issue
- The report lists 77 different parties responsible for sexual violence, which includes 62 non-state actors.
- Around the world, the UN recorded nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence last year alone.