Images from war are often characterised as tanks, physical destruction, and tragic loss of life. However, following the Russian invasion in Ukraine last week, and due to the bravery of our journalists and social media, we have also seen the human story, which sits alongside military strategy, unfold. Families being torn apart, women giving birth in underground stations and new-borns hastily being moved to makeshift bomb shelters as hospitals become too damaged and unsafe.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, an estimated 80,000 women will give birth in the next three months in Ukraine – many of them without access to critical maternal health care. Inevitably for some, childbirth will become life-threatening rather than life changing.
And while the military strategy and determination of the Ukrainians has been awe inspiring, conflict is as much about those on the side-lines, as those on the frontline.
We know from history that in the context of war, women (and men) are targeted as a criminal form of brutal dehumanising, with rape, including gang rape, routinely used as a weapon. It is the weapon that brings incomprehensible harm and damage to victims. It destroys communities and societies – and has rightly been recognised by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what it is; a crime against humanity and a war crime.
Under the leadership of this Government, and following an initiative spearheaded by William Hague, there has been a great deal of progress made. The Integrated Review set out clearly the mission to “strengthen justice for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence” and the G7 communiqué saw the leaders of the seven most important developed nations in the world set out plans to prevent and end sexual violence towards women and girls in conflict.
In November last year, the UK, alongside its allies, also issued a strong statement that the use of sexual violence as a weapon in conflict is a red line akin to the use of chemical weapons. At this time of greatest need the same strong message must now be sent to Russia. I asked the Prime Minister in the House of Commons about this last week, and he could not have been clearer, sexual violence in conflict will not be tolerated. And those who are found to have committed it, will be punished.
None of us can allow this to pass us by. As Christina Lamb so powerfully puts it in her book, “Our Bodies, Their Battlefield”, “rape is the cheapest weapon known to man”.
Sexual violence in conflict is not inevitable. This country is a great country that has led the way on violence against women and girls domestically. We now must show leadership again.
In the run up to International Women’s Day next Tuesday (8th March), the voices of women and girls in Ukraine must be heard. Their rights must be upheld. We must protect them.
For the full article visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-strategy-in-ukraine-must-include…
