Ukraine’s justice system has already filed more than 40 criminal cases alleging sexual assault committed during the Russian invasion that began in February, but this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” Ukraine’s first lady Olena said in London on Monday. Zelenska.
In a speech today at the Conference on the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zelenska revealed that the Prosecutor General of Justice of Ukraine is “doing an excellent job in coordinating the investigation of these crimes”.
“More than 40 criminal cases of sexual violence have already been committed during the large-scale war initiated by the Russians,” added the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, admitting that this number is “only the tip of the iceberg “.
“The real number is much higher, and now it is impossible to determine the number, because no one who has been involved in these terrible crimes wants to press charges. (…) Unfortunately, survivors often remain silent. But when they are done to speak, we have to make sure they have access to free professional legal aid and all the support they need”, defended.
Olena Zelenska said that an interim program is being prepared in cooperation with the Global Survivors Fund to provide long-term compensation to the victims.
“This is a message to all Russians: you will pay for years to come for every person who has been a victim of these crimes,” he said.
Zelenska stated that “it is extremely important to” recognize crimes of sexual violence as war crimes “and to hold all perpetrators accountable”.
“There needs to be a global response to this. Unfortunately, these war crimes will continue to happen around the world as long as the military believes it can continue to commit them with impunity.”
The Ukrainian first lady spoke at the opening of the conference, which today and Tuesday in the British capital brings together representatives from some 70 countries to discuss ways to combat this type of crime in countries such as Ukraine, Ethiopia or Colombia.
Nadia Murad, an Iraqi who was a sex slave for the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), said at the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize that “the international response was not adequate” and that the international community has not prioritized sexual violence.
“Sometimes it seems easier to talk about policies and limited resources instead of focusing on what we can do. And I believe the international community can do more,” he said.
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan admitted the need to “find ways to talk less and do more”.
“Gender-based sex crimes are not just allegations of rape or sexual assault not only against girls and women and boys and men, but encompass a range of crimes, including gender-based harassment. We try to get the politics down on paper and implement they are more effective in the ICC,” he assured.
Opening the conference, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a new funding package of up to £12.5 million (€14.5 million) to help victims of sexual assault bring those responsible to justice.
The UK will also separately donate £3.45 million (four million euros) to the UN Population Fund, which aims to combat gender-based violence in Ukraine.
With AFP
Source: DN
