ISLAMABAD: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is being observed today (Monday) in Pakistan, like everywhere across the world.
The day marks the date of the unanimous adoption of the first United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution to recognize conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic of war and a threat to international peace and security.
The theme of this year’s day is “Bridging the gender digital divide to prevent, address and respond to conflict-related sexual violence”.
Every latest wave of conflict brings an increasing tide of human tragedy, including the latest waves of war’s oldest, most silenced, and least condemned crime – sexual violence. Conflict-related sexual violence, whether against men, girls, women, or boys in all their diversity, continues to be used as a tactic of torture, war, and terrorism amid deepening political and security issues, compounded by militarisation and the illicit proliferation of weapons.
Sexual harassment and gender-based hate speech have surged in the digital space. While the use of information and communication technology has contributed to the empowerment of girls, women, and other groups in vulnerable situations, its use has enabled the propagation of violence.
In some settings, disturbing trends of gender-based hate speech and incitement to violence fuelled conflict in which rape and other forms of sexual violence are used to humiliate and destabilize hit communities. Hate speech – including online – has become one of the most common ways of spreading divisive rhetoric globally.
The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, said, “We must confront bigotry by working to tackle the hate that spreads like wildfire across the internet.”
