Today (4.6) more than 80 women’s right organizations have issued a letter to the UN secretary general Guterres, demanding he launch an immediate independent investigation into the gender based violence that were carried out by Hamas. This call comes in response to the recently released Annual UN Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which did not include Hamas in the “blacklist“ appended to the report.
“There is no doubt about the identity of the October 7 attackers — Hamas explicitly and publicly assumed responsibility for the attack. Nonetheless, in your annual report, you imply that Hamas was not included in the blacklist attached to your report because “a full-fledged investigation” is necessary in order to draw conclusions regarding the attribution of gender-based violence to a specific organization and the prevalence of such acts. As you state, the UN’s fact-finding mission headed by Ms. Patten “was not investigative in nature” and was limited in time. However, in the recommendations of your report there is no mention of the need to initiate a comprehensive UN investigation”
We strongly implore the UN security general to use the authority of the United Nations and utilize all available resources To initiate an unbiased investigation and to unequivocally demonstrate to the international community that sexual violence is neither an inevitable nor acceptable consequence of armed conflict, and should be condemned under any circumstances.
The Letter >>
Women’s rights organizations that wish to sign the letter >>
