Statement on UN Special Rapporteur’s Report on Gender-Based Violence in Conflict – Equality Now

Report on Gender-Based Violence in Conflict and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A recent report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls has documented escalating sex-based violence in global conflict zones, including Gaza, Israel, Sudan, and Ukraine. These acts represent severe violations of international law and present significant obstacles to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

2.0 Key Findings: Violence as a Barrier to Sustainable Development

The UN report highlights a pattern of extreme violence against women and girls being utilized as a weapon of war. These actions directly undermine foundational human rights and several SDGs.

• Violation of SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The systematic targeting of women and girls through sexual violence and reproductive coercion is a direct assault on Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls.
• Violation of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The use of such violence constitutes a genocidal act and a weapon of war, fundamentally contradicting Target 16.1 to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
• Violation of Basic Needs and Well-being Goals (SDG 2, 3, 6): The deliberate denial of access to essential resources and services critical to survival is a key tactic of conflict. This includes:
  • Food (Undermining SDG 2: Zero Hunger)
  • Water (Undermining SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation)
  • Healthcare, maternity, and emergency services (Undermining SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)

3.0 Call for Action: Upholding International Law and the SDG Framework

An urgent and consistent international response is required to address these violations and realign global efforts with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. The selective application of human rights standards undermines the credibility of the global legal framework essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

1. Ensure Universal Accountability: The international community must apply uniform standards of diplomacy, accountability, and redress for violations against women and girls, regardless of geography. This is critical for upholding the integrity of SDG 16, which promotes the rule of law at the national and international levels.
2. Integrate Women in Peace and Reconstruction Processes: In line with SDG Target 5.5 (ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership), women and girls must be central to all reconstruction, governance, and justice processes. Their leadership and insights are vital for building resilient and equitable post-conflict societies.
3. Implement Meaningful Diplomatic and Legal Measures: Governments must move beyond statements and take concrete action through diplomacy and legal accountability to prevent further atrocities. This includes ceasing funding for conflicts, which perpetuates violence, and redirecting resources toward sustainable community development in alignment with the broader SDG framework.
4. Prioritize Gender Equality in Global Forums: World leaders must uphold international law and condemn all forms of gender-based violence in conflict. The dignity, safety, and rights of women and girls must be prioritized as a prerequisite for achieving global peace and sustainable development.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
     
     The article’s central theme is the “alarming and escalating forms of sex-based violence in conflict zones,” explicitly mentioning “sexual violence” and “reproductive coercion” against women and girls as a “weapon of war.”
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
     
     The article demands that women and girls be placed “at the centre of reconstruction, governance, and justice processes” and that their “voices, needs, insights, and leadership must be fully integrated into transitional justice mechanisms and post-conflict reconstruction.”

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
     
     The article directly addresses the “extreme use of violence against women and girls” in conflict zones like Gaza, Israel, Sudan, and Ukraine, calling for an end to these atrocities.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
     
     The text repeatedly calls for “accountability, and redress” for violations, urging the international community to uphold “international human rights and humanitarian law” and pursue justice through “legal accountability.”

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.
     
     The article highlights “reproductive coercion” and the “denial of… healthcare, maternity and emergency services critical to survival” as forms of violence against women in conflict.

4. SDG 2: Zero Hunger & SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 2.1 & 6.1: Ensure access to food and clean water.
     
     The article identifies the “denial of basic needs and infrastructure: food, water” as a deliberate act of violence used against women and girls in conflict zones.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.
     
     The article is a direct appeal to the “international community,” “world leaders attending UNGA,” and “international forums” to work together through “diplomacy” and “meaningful action” to address the issues.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. For Target 5.2 (Eliminate violence against women)

   • Indicator: Number and prevalence of reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones.
     
     The article’s focus on “alarming and escalating forms of sex-based violence” implies that tracking the frequency and nature of these acts (e.g., sexual violence, reproductive coercion) is a key measure of the problem’s scale.

2. For Target 5.5 (Women’s participation in decision-making)

   • Indicator: Proportion of women in leadership and participatory roles in post-conflict reconstruction, governance, and justice processes.
     
     The demand to have women’s “voices, needs, insights, and leadership… fully integrated” suggests that progress can be measured by their level of representation and influence in these areas.

3. For Target 16.3 (Rule of law and access to justice)

   • Indicator: Number of investigations and successful prosecutions for violations of international humanitarian law concerning gender-based violence.
     
     The call for “accountability, and redress” and “legal accountability” implies that a key indicator of progress is the functioning of justice mechanisms to address these specific crimes.

4. For Targets 2.1, 3.7, 6.1 (Access to basic services)

   • Indicator: Level of access to essential services (food, water, healthcare, maternity services) for women and girls in conflict-affected areas.
     
     The article frames the “denial of basic needs” as a weapon of war. Therefore, measuring the restoration and consistent availability of these services is a direct indicator of improved safety and well-being.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: equalitynow.org