Delegates of CSW68
New York 11 March 2024
Dear Commission Delegate
As you and your fellow delegates gather for CSW 68, we, a group of academics, politicians and human rights defenders, women and our male allies, highlight the urgent need for action over the proliferation of conflict-related sexual violence.
We bring to your attention the horrific findings of recent research, “Bodies as Battlefields” conducted by a women academic who was trapped in Tigray, Ethiopia, during the two year conflict there. She recently presented her academic findings on the conflict-related sexual violence that occurred.
Since the Tigray conflict, there have been recent harrowing reports of conflict-related sexual violence against women in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which add to the urgency of our appeal to you to ensure that this subject is addressed by the CSW.
The research in Tigray, based on interviews with survivors, found that the conflict-related sexual violence in her country included:
- Mutilation of women’s genitals and other body parts;
- Insertion of foreign objects into women’s vaginas;
- Gang-rape of individual women, usually by three to 10 armed combatants;
- Forcing of family members to witness or participate in the act;
- Exposure of survivors to multiple incidents of rape, including sexual slavery, with survivors typically held for two to 35 days; and
- HIV/AIDS being intentionally transmitted through rape to reduce the number of the targeted population.
These findings of the exceptional nature of conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray are echoed in the experience of women in other conflict zones, where there are also accounts of the blinding of women to prevent identification of perpetrators.
In addition to the physical, psychological and social consequences, the Tigray research found there were profound economic consequences for the survivors and the wider community.
The recommendations in the recent Tigray research include the strengthening of local, national and international institutions to protect women, and to provide justice and prevent further conflict-related sexual violence. In addition, it highlights the need for measures to counter the extreme economic exclusion of women who are ostracised by their community because of the abuses inflicted on them.
Both of these subjects – institutional strengthening and economic empowerment with a gender perspective – are on the agenda for this year’s conference. We would therefore ask that as part of your discussions, the position of women affected by conflict-related sexual violence be specifically addressed.
We would further request that you and fellow delegates ask that the subject of women affected by conflict-related sexual violence be put on the agenda for next year’s CSW. Eliminating violence against women in public life was included in the 2021 agenda: however, this did not include the issue of conflict-related sexual violence.
The international community has passed repeated resolutions, including 1325, 1888, 2106, 2467, condemning conflict-related sexual violence and setting out remedial action. There is a special UN Representative on sexual violence in conflict and an International Day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict. But warm words have not provided justice for the women of Tigray, or the Rohingya, Uyghur, Yazidi or other women who have been targeted with grotesque conflict-related sexual violence. Nor has it prevented women in Ukraine, Gaza or Israel being subjected to extreme sexual violence linked to the conflict in their countries. Combatants continue to target sexual violence against women with complete impunity. Their military and political leaders either permit, enable or promote the violence, safe in the knowledge they will not be held to account.
Putting the subject on the agenda for next year’s CSW, will give fresh impetus to the global campaign. It will provide a beacon of hope to the hundreds of thousands of women affected by conflict-related sexual violence globally, and act as a warning to perpetrators that the international community will act on its commitment to eliminate this gross injustice.
We wish you every success in your deliberations at CSW68. Many women around the world look to you to provide a lead in creating a more equal and just world.
With best wishes
Julia Duncan-Cassell, former Minister of Gender, Liberia, and President of the European External Programme with Africa
Kokob Gebru Kidanu, Vice President of the European External Programme with Africa, Researcher, Sexual Violence. Against Women, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Filsan Abdi Former Minister for Women, Children and Youth, Ethiopia, and founder of the Horn Peace Institute
Lord David Alton, member of the House of Lords, UK, member of the House of Lords select committee on international relations and human rights advocate
Sally Keeble, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for International Development, UK
Mirjam van Reisen, Tilburg Unversity, The Netherlands
Amelda Khudeeda Project Manager, Yazda
Tsedale Lemma, CEO, JAKENN publishing PLc. The Publisher of Addis Standard Publications
Rita Kahsay, Irob Anina Civil Society
Ilham Ibrahim, Sudan Organisation for Research and Development, Sudan
Sarah Vaughan, Author “Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War”, UK
Alex de Waal, Executive director of World Peace Foundation, Tufts University
Rebecca Tinsley, founder and CEO, Waging Peace
Ewelina Ochab, Human rights defender, and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response
Prof. Dr. Francisca Oladipo, Vice Chancellor, TAU, Nigeria
Prof. Dr. James Narendra, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Prof. Dr. Khamati Shilabukha, Nairobi University, Kenya
Meaza Gebremedhin, Independent researcher & human rights defender, Tigray, Ethiopia
Arjun Karki, LDC Watch, Kathmandu, Nepal
Lieve Fransen, Advisory council member of VODAN Africa, Belgium
Ewelina U. Ochab, IBA’s Human Rights Institute and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response
Chessie Baldwin, Researcher, University of Exeter, University of Reading, UK
Diederik van Iwaarden, Chair Europe External programme with Africa, Belgium
Dr. Araya Abrha Medhanyie, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Dr. Selam Kidane, Lecturer, UK
Gebrekirstos Gebremeskel, TGHAT, The Netherlands
Malgorzata Tarasiewicz, Network of East-West Women, NEWW, Poland
Hadish Mebrahtu, Mahber Selam, The Netherlands
Cornelia Toelgyes, journalist, Africa Express, Italy
Martin Plaut, Senior Research Fellow King’s College London, UK
Tom Claes, Journalist, MO, Belgium
Danial Zemchal, Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication, Aksum University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Shishay Equar, Lecture, Department of Journalism and Communication at Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Dr. Awet Hailezgi Tefera, Lecturer, Mekelle University, Tigray Ethiopia
Eberhard Hitzler, Independent Expert Horn of Africa, Germany
Wolfgang Heinrich, peace building, conflict transformation and political analysis consultant, Germany
Rahima Mahmut, UK Director, World Uyghur Congress
Hagos Gebremariam, Researcher Adigrat University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Habtom Teklay Shfare, Faculty, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Tadese Tekelbrhan, Human Rights Defenders Eritrea, The Netherlands
Dr. Reginald Nalagala, Tangaza University, Kenya
Beyene Gerezghier, Eritrean Bright Future Movement, The Netherlands
Dr. Sakinat Folorunsa, Lecturer, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
Senait Abrha, Lecturer, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Dr. Bénédicte Mouton, Université Libre de Belgique, Belgium
Paddy Maguinness, Vice-Chair Europe External Programme with Africa, Belgium
Kai Smits, Researcher Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Ria Landa-Figuera, Researcher Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Mildred Akandinda, Kampala International University, Uganda
Mahlet Mehari Abrha, Lecturer at College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University
Joshua Pos – van Lune, Kampala International University, Uganda
Liya Mano, Researcher, Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia
Simon Stocker, LDC Watch, Belgium
Piet Gotlieb, Tilburg University
Dr. Shelene Gomes, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus, Trinidad & Tobago
Kristina Melicherova, Researcher, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Colletta Musara, Researcher, Great Zimbabwe University
Seife Hailu, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Mekelle University
Znabu Hadush Kahsay, Lecturer at College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University
Birhan Gebrekirstos Mezgbo, researcher, lecturer, Mekelle University
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, South Sudan
Christian F Nunes, National Organisation for Women NOW, USA
Amelda Khudeeda, Duhok, Iraq
Organisations signing the letter:
The Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars and Professionals ( GSTS)
Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA)
Union of Tigrayans in Belgium
Tigrayan Advocacy & Development Association UK
Tigray Youth Network UK
Mekete Tigray UK
Association of Tigrayans in Denmark
Association of Tigrayans in France
Tigray Development Association in France
Association of Tigrayans in the Netherlands
Association Tigray Development Association in the Netherlands (TDA NL)
Association Tigray’s Women in Netherlands
Dekna Foundation
Tigrayan Youth Association in Italy
Forum Mekete, Italy
Tigrayan Scholars in Italy (TSI)
Cultural Association and Social Promotion of the Tigray Community in Italy
Volunteer Association for the Development of Tigray, Italy
Association for the Development of Tigray (AST)
Associations of Tigrayan Community in Bologna
Tigray Community Association in Tuscany (ACTT)
Association of Tigrayan Women in Italy
Tigrayhjelpen Norway
Tigray Community Switzerland
Association of Tigrayan Women in Sweden/TKFS
Union of Tigrayan Associations in Sweden
TGHAT
Irob Anima
Horn of Africa Civil Society Forum
Release Eritrea
Mahber Selam
Network of East-West Women, NEWW
Human Rights Defenders Eritrea
Sanctuary Foundation, Nairobi
LDC Watch
Irob Anina Civil Society
Congolese Solidariteit
Resurrection of the Tigrayan and Eritrean People
For further contact:
Sally Keeble: sally@sallykeeble.com