Stop Rape and Sexual Violence as Weapons of War
The Issue
In the chaos of conflict and disaster, women and girls suffer unspeakable exploitation, arbitrary killings, torture, and forced marriage. They are also targets of sexual violence as a tactic of war.
The level of rape during conflict and post-conflict is staggering: between 250,000 and 500,000 women and girls were raped in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda; more than 60,000 in the civil war in Sierra Leone; between 20,000 and 50,000 in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and at least 200,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1996 (UN Women, 2014). Statistics for the Israel-Hamas and Russo-Ukrainian wars are not yet available but may be similarly dire.
There are 32 ongoing conflicts in the world right now. Risk factors for sexual violence against women are evident, as armed groups signal their disregard for civilians. Horrifyingly, there are recent reports of women and girls being raped, assaulted, and tortured by military forces.
The lack of delivery of essential services to those in war and conflict areas has a disproportionate impact on women and girls. They are at great risk for rape-induced sexual and reproductive injuries, unplanned pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.
As a member of Servas, an international peace and hospitality organization in over 100 countries, I am speaking out against sexual violence in the Israel-Hamas war, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and all wars and conflicts. Now.
Join me in taking action today. Speak out against sexual violence.
Consider donating to an organization, such as one listed below, that provides a humanitarian response to women and girls in danger of rape, sexual assault, or other violence. (*Donations made on this Change.org website do NOT go to a humanitarian organization or Servas.)
UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women: https://donate.unwomen.org/en/end-violence-against-women-and-girls-today?utm_source=UNTF&utm_medium=webpage
Action Aid: https://actionaid.org/
Refugees International: https://www.refugeesinternational.org/regions/
Care International: https://www.care-international.org/
Or donate to a Servas National group, as Servas has worked for over 75 years to promote worldwide peace. To learn more about Servas International, go to https://servas.org/en
3,588
The Issue
In the chaos of conflict and disaster, women and girls suffer unspeakable exploitation, arbitrary killings, torture, and forced marriage. They are also targets of sexual violence as a tactic of war.
The level of rape during conflict and post-conflict is staggering: between 250,000 and 500,000 women and girls were raped in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda; more than 60,000 in the civil war in Sierra Leone; between 20,000 and 50,000 in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and at least 200,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1996 (UN Women, 2014). Statistics for the Israel-Hamas and Russo-Ukrainian wars are not yet available but may be similarly dire.
There are 32 ongoing conflicts in the world right now. Risk factors for sexual violence against women are evident, as armed groups signal their disregard for civilians. Horrifyingly, there are recent reports of women and girls being raped, assaulted, and tortured by military forces.
The lack of delivery of essential services to those in war and conflict areas has a disproportionate impact on women and girls. They are at great risk for rape-induced sexual and reproductive injuries, unplanned pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections.
As a member of Servas, an international peace and hospitality organization in over 100 countries, I am speaking out against sexual violence in the Israel-Hamas war, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and all wars and conflicts. Now.
Join me in taking action today. Speak out against sexual violence.
Consider donating to an organization, such as one listed below, that provides a humanitarian response to women and girls in danger of rape, sexual assault, or other violence. (*Donations made on this Change.org website do NOT go to a humanitarian organization or Servas.)
UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women: https://donate.unwomen.org/en/end-violence-against-women-and-girls-today?utm_source=UNTF&utm_medium=webpage
Action Aid: https://actionaid.org/
Refugees International: https://www.refugeesinternational.org/regions/
Care International: https://www.care-international.org/
Or donate to a Servas National group, as Servas has worked for over 75 years to promote worldwide peace. To learn more about Servas International, go to https://servas.org/en
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Petition created on November 16, 2023