U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and called for accountability in remarks made at the White House on Monday marking International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
“I especially thank the survivors and advocates that are with us today,” Harris said. “You are fearless advocates in the fight for justice, and you remind us of the resilience of survivors.”
The vice president said that “sexual violence has been a tactic of war since ancient times,” used to “humiliate and terrorize and subdue entire populations.”
She cited Russian troops fighting in Ukraine who had “raped women in occupied territories” as her first example.
Harris listed countries around the world where conflicts had seen sexual violence, including Sudan, Haiti, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Congo. She said that experts estimate that for every rape documented during wars, 10 to 20 more occur.
“My heart breaks for the trauma and pain inflicted in each of these conflicts,” she said.
Harris, along with sexual violence survivors and experts on the topic, condemned conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and called for the international community to join the United States in advancing justice and accountability for this crime,” a White House news release stated.
Earlier, the White House published a Fact Sheet outlining the event and the efforts involved in fighting CRSV.
Turning to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Harris said “Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence.”
She recounted seeing photos of bloodied Israelis abducted and that “women’s bodies were found naked to the waist down, hands tied behind their back and shot in the head.”
Harris said that released hostages have begun revealing stories of the sexual violence they endured in captivity.
At the event was Amit Soussana, who was abducted by Hamas terrorists from her home in Israel on Oct. 7 and released in March.
Soussana describes her ordeal in Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary film Screams Before Silence. The event included a partial screening of the film.
“These testimonies, I fear, will only increase as more hostages are released,” Harris said. “We cannot look away, and we will not be silent. My heart breaks for all these survivors and their families.”
The United Nations General Assembly in 2015 proclaimed June 19 of each year the “International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict” to raise awareness of “the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence,” and to honor the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the globe, according to the United Nations.
“Globally, our system of accountability remains inadequate,” Harris said. “It is the responsibility of all of us—governments, international organizations, civil society and individual citizens—to actively confront combat-related sexual violence and work to rid our world of this heinous crime.”
“It starts, of course, with awareness and acknowledgement,” she said.
Addressing CRSV requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. One crucial strategy is to strengthen legal frameworks by enacting and enforcing robust laws that criminalize sexual violence in conflict zones, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable. Supporting international treaties and resolutions aimed at preventing and responding to CRSV, such as those by the United Nations Security Council, is also vital.
International cooperation and diplomacy are essential. The US can engage in bilateral and multilateral efforts to create a unified front against CRSV, using sanctions and diplomatic pressure on states and non-state actors that perpetrate or tolerate such violence.
Providing support for victims is another critical component, which involves funding and support for medical, psychological, and social services, as well as establishing safe spaces and shelters for survivors.
The U.S. and other Western countries must reform the military and security sectors through comprehensive training programs on preventing and responding to CRSV and establishing clear accountability mechanisms.
Supporting international criminal justice mechanisms, such as international tribunals and the International Criminal Court, can ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted. Facilitating the extradition and prosecution of individuals accused of CRSV in international courts further reinforces accountability.
By adopting this comprehensive and multi-layered approach, the United States can significantly contribute to tackling conflict-related sexual violence globally.
Harris concluded that “the bottom line is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war is unconscionable, and any failure to hold perpetrators accountable is a failure to live up to our common humanity.”