In a recent development, a bipartisan group of 33 senators requested the United Nations (UN) to launch an investigation into allegations of sexual violence against Israeli women by Hamas during an attack on October 7. The senators reached out to the UN Secretary General through a letter seeking an investigation, considering survivor and witness testimonies.
The letter expressed deep disappointment with the UN's response to the widespread sexual violence, including rape and mutilation, used by Hamas as a weapon of war against women in Israel on October 27, 2023. According to the senators, the level of brutality demonstrated in this particular case of sexual violence compels nothing less than an unequivocal condemnation. This is why the delay by UN Women - nearly two months - to speak out against these atrocities is a cause for concern.
The delay by the UN Women further prompts criticism of the effectiveness of the UN in managing such situations. It took the UN Women 57 days to condemn the sexual violence and mutilation committed against Israeli women and men by Hamas.
The concern is that the acts of sexual violence are not fueled by sexual excitement but by a desire to degrade and humiliate the victims. Strikingly, the criticism hinges on the argument that if any other group of individuals had been subjected to such a level of sexual violence, the UN would have reacted more promptly. The main reason speculated for the UN's delay is that the victims were Jewish.
In response to the delay, the deputy director of UN Women argued that the organization typically supports impartial and independent investigations into any serious allegations of gender-based or sexual violence. The main office leading these investigations within the UN is the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. However, this argument was described as bureaucratic evasion.
Finally, while the UN was swift to call for a ceasefire, it has been slow to adopt a resolution condemning Hamas, further drawing criticism from all corners. These events shed light on the ongoing international dialogue on sexual violence and the ways international bodies respond to such atrocities.
