The UAE’s UN representative, Mohamed Abushahab, urged the Security Council to include sexual violence in Sudan’s sanctions. He noted 221 verified cases, highlighting the need for increased pressure on warring factions for negotiations and humanitarian access. UNICEF reported an 80% rise in sexual violence cases, prompting calls for accountability and support for victims.
The United Arab Emirates’ permanent representative to the United Nations, Mohamed Abushahab, advocated for the inclusion of conflict-related sexual violence as a separate designation factor in Sudan’s sanctions regime. In this regard, he highlighted the alarming issue of 221 verified cases of such violence, many involving children under one year of age, during a recent Security Council Briefing on Sudan.
Abushahab emphasized the necessity for increased international pressure on the opposing factions in Sudan to engage in negotiations and facilitate humanitarian aid to the crisis-stricken population. The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing over 12 million individuals and causing thousands of fatalities.
Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, reported to the UN Security Council that the incidence of sexual violence has escalated by 80% in the past year, affecting an increasing number of both women and men. Abushahab asserted, “All perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence, in Sudan and around the world, must be held accountable. The UAE unequivocally condemns, in the strongest terms, all forms of sexual violence.”
He stressed the importance of providing essential care to survivors, including mental health and psychosocial support, which will be crucial even after the cessation of hostilities. Moreover, he urged the international community to persistently pressure both the RSF and SAF to allow unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for civilians in Sudan.
In summary, the UAE’s representative to the UN has called for urgent measures to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan, specifically through the inclusion of sexual violence in sanctions. There is a pressing need for international pressure on conflicting parties to negotiate and grant access to humanitarian aid. The resolution of these issues is imperative for the welfare of millions affected by the conflict.
Original Source: www.arnnewscentre.ae
