Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1473504
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 JULY 2022 12 OPINION Sexual violence in conflict CONFLICTS and situations of instability increase pre-exist- ing inequalities against women and girls, such as sexual slav- ery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced marriage, and any other form of gender-based violence that is related to a conflict. Although both women and men may experience con- flict-related sexual violence, women and girls are predomi- nantly more subject to such vi- olence. In 2019, the United Na- tions documented 2,838 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, of which 96% targeted women and girls. Moreover, in 2018, women and girls accounted for about 65% of more than 45,000 detected trafficking victims globally. The vast majority of victims of conflict-related sexual vio- lence refrain from reporting these crimes because of fear and cultural stigma. In fact, "practi- tioners in the field estimate that for each rape reported in con- nection with a conflict, 10 to 20 cases go undocumented." To this end, in 2015, the Unit- ed Nations General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19th June of each year the In- ternational Day for the Elim- ination of Sexual Violence in Conflict to raise awareness on the importance of putting an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence worldwide, and to pay tribute to all those who worked to combat such crimes. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how women dispro- portionately shoulder unpaid care and domestic work. In- deed, women worldwide do three times as much unpaid care and domestic work as men. Post-pandemic, reports of vio- lence against women and girls have increased in countries where restrictive measures have been adopted to curb the spread of the virus. Additionally, ac- cording to the International La- bour Organization's (ILO) data, employment losses were higher for women than men during the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020, women's employment de- clined by 4.2% while men's em- ployment declined by 3%. Women and girls should not only be seen as victims of con- flict and instability, but also as active agents during conflicts and situations of instability. Be- tween 1992 and 2019, women constituted, on average, 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories in major peace processes worldwide. The role of women and girls in armed conflict has been ac- knowledged since the 31st Oc- tober 2000 when the United Nations Security Council (UN- SC) adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Securi- ty (WPS). The Resolution rec- ognises the role of women as active agents of peace and em- phasises that peace is linked to equality between women and men. Sustainable peace can only be achieved through women's economic and political empow- erment, alongside their involve- ment in decision-making pro- cesses. Hence, the main prerequisite for peace, security, sustainable development and justice is gen- der equality. At national level, in 2020, Mal- ta launched its first National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS to ensure the implementation of this Resolution. The main four pillars of the NAP's framework are to promote the WPS agenda domestically and internation- ally, prevent all forms of vio- lence, including gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, increase participa- tion and representation of wom- en at all decision-making levels, including conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and increase and strengthen partnerships to accomplish the WPS agenda domestically. In this context, the Ministry for Foreign and European Af- fairs (MFEA) set up an Over- sight Committee to serve as a monitoring body to the im- plementation of the NAP. The Committee brings together rep- resentatives from government ministries and entities, civil society organisations, and aca- demics. As the NCPE Commissioner, I am also a member of the Over- sight Committee. We all work together to further improve and promote Malta's progress in implementing the UNSC Resolution 1325 and enhance the prevention of conflict-re- lated sexual violence. In today's world, where conflict-related sexual violence is spreading, Resolution 1325 is becoming even more relevant and signifi- cant. The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) can be contacted on: 2276 8200 or equality@gov.mt or our Facebook page Renee Laiviera is Commissioner, National Commission for the Protection of Equality Renee Laiviera Sustainable peace can only be achieved through women's economic and political empowerment, alongside their involvement in decision-making processes