President Joe Biden has announced new measures to address sexual violence in conflict zones around the world. In a statement issued on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, President Biden acknowledged that this scourge continues to be prevalent around the world, from Ukraine to Ethiopia , through Haiti, Sudan and beyond. He reiterated the commitment of the United States to do everything in its power to end this gross violation of human rights and announced that his administration would take historic sanctions against actors who commit these violations.
“Ending gender-based violence, wherever it occurs, and supporting survivors has been a priority for me — as a senator, vice president, and since day one of my administration,” Biden said in a statement. provided to PoliticusUSA.
It is the first time that a specific focus on conflict-related sexual violence has led to the imposition of US sanctions.
In November 2020, President Biden released a presidential memorandum to strengthen and strengthen the government’s use of financial, diplomatic, and legal tools to address conflict-related sexual violence. Today’s sanctions build on that memorandum and name two South Sudanese political and military targets who oversaw the rape and murder of civilians during the civil war, and two ISIS terrorists responsible for the brutal rape and torture of Yazidi women and girls.
The President affirmed that the United States stands in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence in conflict and, with our partners, will continue to lead efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for this grave human rights violation. This announcement is an important step in the right direction to end sexual violence in conflict zones and ensure justice for survivors.
