UNAMI participates in Conference on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

Commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict under the global theme ‘Preventing Sexual Violence Crimes through Justice and Deterrence’, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) participated in a special conference which was convened in Erbil on Monday, 19 June 2017 in Erbil, under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

With wide participation from representatives of the United Nations, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, diplomatic corps and civil society, the United Nations representative at the conference, Ms. Roueida El Hage, said that “As we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we use this opportunity to raise awareness of the need to end sexual violence in conflict; we stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, their families and communities; and we pay tribute to all those who are courageously working on the front-lines for the eradication of sexual violence crimes”.

Ms. El Hage also emphasised that “UNAMI has prioritised accountability to provide justice to individuals affected by human rights violations and abuses, in particular serious crimes that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide. To that end, UNAMI is pursuing a strategy at the national level with a view to allowing domestic courts to have jurisdiction over international crimes. This would include legal reforms to introduce definitions of international crimes and penalties into legislation and the establishment of a specialised court with the jurisdiction to try perpetrators on the domestic level, in conformity with international criminal law principles”.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Government of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Regional government, to comprehensively address sexual violence in conflict within the framework of the Joint Communiqué on Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence which was endorsed in September 2016.

Photos: UNAMI PIO