Sure! Here’s the translation to American English:
On Tuesday, the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, presented a critical report to the Security Council regarding sexual violence in conflict settings, highlighting the urgent need for support for survivors in regions where services are increasingly inaccessible. The situation in 2024 has worsened, with over 4,600 reported cases, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous year. Patten noted that these figures only represent the visible part of the problem, as they reflect only the cases verified by the UN.
Violence against children has seen a 35% increase, affecting even infants under one year old. The report discusses 21 alarming situations, indicating that the highest levels of violence are found in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan. Among the concerning trends, it highlights that refugee and displaced women and girls are particularly vulnerable, and that food insecurity has increased this risk. Additionally, armed groups are observed to use sexual violence as a tool for territorial control and recruitment.
Patten emphasized that global military spending in just one day exceeds the annual budgets allocated for combating such violence. Budget cuts have led to the closure of shelters and a shortage of essential supplies in crises such as those in Sudan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Gaza. “If we are serious about peace, we must fund the institutions that make it possible,” she stated, underscoring the need for those responsible for these acts to be brought to justice.
Finally, she emphasized that her Office seeks to promote compliance with standards and improve service delivery, as well as strengthen safeguards against impunity. She chairs an inter-agency network called UN in Action, which has successfully reached thousands of survivors in 18 conflict areas, demonstrating that any backtracking on investments and respect for standards would betray the victims and encourage perpetrators to continue their actions.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
