The UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten says the crisis of conflict-related sexual violence is worsening. She further emphasized the need to support survivors in conflict zones, where services are increasingly inaccessible.
Pramila Patten,made these revelations when she presented the Secretary-General’s annual report to Security Council members during a debate on the issue on Tuesday.
The escalation of this crisis reflects the growing scale of conflicts worldwide. Over 4,600 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were reported in 2024, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023. Patten stressed that these figures are chronically underestimated, reflecting only cases verified by the UN.
Also according to her, sexual violence against children rose by 35% over the past year, with victims as young as one year old.
The report covers 21 situations of concern, with the highest number of cases recorded in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Additionally, new lists of parties suspected of committing or enabling sexual violence have been established in the DRC, Libya, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, she revealed from the report .
This crisis disproportionately affects women and girls, who consistently account for over 90% of verified cases, including 92% this year.
While global military spending exceeds in 24 hours the annual funds allocated to fight conflict-related sexual violence, and needs continue to rise, Patten warned that “women’s frontline organizations are moving from underfunded to unfunded.”
“If we truly want peace, we must fund the institutions that make it possible. If we truly want security, we must reaffirm the rule of law and hold accountable those who commit, order, or condone grave violations, including the atrocities of conflict-related sexual violence,” Patten stressed.
Regarding service delivery, she highlighted that the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict network, which she chairs, has had a truly transformative impact through advocacy, knowledge-building, and joint field operations, reaching thousands of survivors in 18 conflict-affected areas.
On 12 April 2017, Pramila Patten of Mauritius was appointed by the UN Secretary General António Guterres as his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the level of Under-Secretary-General.
Prior to her appointment Ms. Patten, a practising barrister-at-law, having served since 2003 has served in various committees that has addressed issues affecting women across the African continent and beyond.
ForshesAfrica News/ UN Report
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