NEW YORK: The Gulf Group at the United Nations welcomed the inclusion of the Israeli occupation in the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on sexual violence during armed conflicts.The Group described the decision as a “first and essential step” toward accountability and recognition of violations committed against the Palestinian people.
The remarks were delivered by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai, on behalf of the Gulf Group, during a UN Security Council session on Women, Peace and Security. The Council discussed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ comprehensive report on sexual violence in armed conflict, covering the period from January to December 2024.Al-Bannai said the report’s findings remind the world it remains far from its goals despite repeated commitments, adding that sexual violence continues as a weapon of war, terror, and political repression.
The Gulf states, he added, cannot ignore that sexual violence is used to forcibly displace populations, tear apart societies, and spread fear among civilians. He condemned the Israeli occupation’s refusal to allow UN officials access to the occupied Palestinian territory, calling this an “unacceptable obstruction” of investigative efforts and urged immediate and unconditional facilitation of such visits.
Al-Bannai also drew attention to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar, where entire communities have endured collective trauma from widespread sexual violence, often with ethnic targeting. He called on all parties to cooperate with the UN, ensure documentation of crimes, protect survivors, and prevent reprisals.
The ambassador warned that the persistence of such crimes undermines peace and security, affirming that accountability is not optional but a legal and moral duty, and survivors must see justice delivered through national courts or international mechanisms where necessary. The Gulf Group expressed support for the Secretary-General’s recommendations, including sanctions such as travel bans, asset freezes, and the recognition of sexual violence as a standard criterion for sanctions regimes.
The statement also called for vetting of armed and security forces to exclude perpetrators and for binding provisions against sexual violence in ceasefire and peace agreements.Al-Bannai underscored the importance of deploying Women Protection Advisers with sustainable UN funding, alongside survivor rehabilitation and awareness programs.He concluded that sexual violence in conflict is not inevitable but a preventable crime, ending it requires political will, accountability, and unwavering support for survivors.” We owe it to the victims and survivors whose suffering has been documented in this report, and to those whose stories may never be told, to turn words into tangible action,” he said. — KUNA
