In a resolute move to combat sexual violence in conflict zones, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced a series of comprehensive measures targeting perpetrators and supporting survivors.
As part of the Human Rights week and following the conclusion of the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, the Department of Treasury and the State Department imposed significant sanctions on thirteen individuals from four different countries.
President Biden has emphasized the collective responsibility of governments, international organizations, civil society, and individuals to condemn sexual violence unequivocally.
The focus extends to regions facing conflict and instability, where women and girls continue to endure the brunt of violence. From Ukraine to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Haiti, the Administration underscores its commitment to standing in solidarity with survivors.
The latest actions include designations against:
1. Central African Republic: Two individuals associated with armed rebel groups, responsible for forcing girls into sexual slavery and committing rape and sexual assault.
2. Democratic Republic of Congo: Four leaders affiliated with the ISIS group, involved in killings, mutilations, and sexual violence against women and girls.
3. Haiti: Four gang members held accountable for or complicit in sexual violence and abduction, with one individual identified by survivors as directly responsible for over 1,000 documented cases of sexual violence in 2022 alone.
4. South Sudan: Three individuals connected to government-aligned forces and allied militias, overseeing, ordering, incentivizing, or directly engaging in sexual assault, sexual slavery, and gang rape.
This move comes as an extension of President Biden’s ongoing commitment to ending gender-based violence, particularly in conflict zones. Last year, he signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the U.S. government to strengthen financial, diplomatic, and legal tools against sexual violence in conflict, leading to the historic imposition of sanctions earlier this year.
The Administration firmly rejects the notion that sexual violence in conflict is inevitable, stressing that perpetrators must be held accountable, and survivors should have access to necessary services and support.
Sexual violence in conflict is an affront to our common humanity. When it occurs, perpetrators must be held accountable, and survivors must have access to services and support. The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to prioritize efforts to combat and address gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, and do all we can to elevate the critical participation of women and girls in efforts to advance justice, peace and stability.
The United States remains dedicated to combating gender-based violence and ensuring the active participation of women and girls in the pursuit of justice, peace, and stability.
