UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon openly acknowledged violence against women has reached “hideous” levels in countries attempting to recover from conflict. He has demanded an end to impunity for rape and other sexual crimes. Assistant Secretary-General Rachel Mayanja stated that sexual violence needs to be called what it is. It should not be viewed as a private act or the misbehavior of a soldier. Rather, it is an act of aggression in the form of torture, genocide or a war crime.
These statements were read at a meeting about the implementation of resolution 1325, adopted in 2000, which calls for the prosecution of crimes against women and girls during war.
Compiled from: "UN chief: violence against women surges," Edith M. Lederer, MiamiHerald.com, 24 October 2007.