- Perpetrators of sexual violence in
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Syria will be subject
to asset freezes and travel bans
- This action on International Day
for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict demonstrates the
UK’s commitment to hold offenders to account
- UK is working with partners to
support countries around the world to strengthen their compliance
with international law on Conflict Related Sexual Violence
New sanctions holding perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict
zones to account have been introduced by the UK today (Monday,
June 19) on the International Day to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict.
Lord Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on
Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, announced the sanctions,
which will freeze the assets and ban those targeted from
travelling to the UK. The sanctions, which build on previous UK
action in this area, send a clear message of solidarity with
survivors and condemnation of these illegal acts.
These latest sanctions target two militia leaders in the DRC for
violating international humanitarian law by commanding groups to
carry out acts of sexual violence. They also include the Syrian
Army Chief and Minister of Defence who authorised sexual and
gender-based violence, including systematic rape of civilians.
In the last year the UK has sanctioned 15 individuals and
entities who have committed specific human rights violations
against women and girls, 13 of whom were involved in crimes of
sexual violence in conflict.
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special
Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict,
said:
“Threats of sexual violence as a weapon in conflict must stop and
survivors must be supported to come forward.
“These sanctions send a clear signal to perpetrators that the UK
will hold you accountable for your horrendous crimes.”
An estimated 20 to 30 per cent of women and girls in
conflict-affected areas experience sexual violence. The UK is
committed to standing up for women and girls, and tackling the
inequalities that they face. The FCDO’s Women and Girls Strategy,
published in March, sets out how the UK will work to tackle
global gender inequality at every opportunity. For the first
time, this strategy commits the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office to more than 80% of its bilateral aid
programmes including a focus on gender equality by 2030.
As part of the UK’s wider work on this issue, the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office has funded a Guidebook on
State Obligations on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. Produced
by the Mukwege Foundation, which will support states around the
world to understand and comply with international law on
conflict-related sexual violence.
These announcements deliver on UK commitments made at the UK’s
Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference
(November 2022) to use all levers at our disposal to address
sexual violence in conflict.
Those sanctioned today are:
- Abdel Karim Mahmoud
Ibrahim, the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Army and
Armed Forces who has been involved in the repression of the
Syrian population through commanding military forces where there
has been systematic use of rape and other forms of sexual and
gender-based violence.
- Ali Mahmoud Abbas, the
Syrian Minister of Defence for his commanding role of the Syrian
military and armed forces, who have systematically used rape, and
other forms of sexual and gender-based violence against
civilians.
- Désiré Londroma Ndjukpa who
has been involved in violations of international humanitarian law
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including rape, mass
rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, through
his role as a leader of the Cooperative for the Development of
the Congo (CODECO-URDPC).
- William Yakutumba who has
been involved in the commission of violations of
international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, including rape, mass rape and other forms of sexual and
gender-based violence, through his role as leader of the armed
Mai-Mai Yakutumba rebel group.
The sanctions build on those CRSV-focused sanctions that were
announced in December as part of our Global Human Rights Day
package and in March for International Women’s
Day.
[ENDS]
Notes to editors:
- The individuals sanctioned today are subject to an asset
freeze and travel ban. The entity is subject to an asset freeze.
- An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in
the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which
are owned, held or controlled by the designated person.
- A travel ban means that the designated person is refused
leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom.
- The Guidebook on State Obligations on Conflict-Related Sexual
Violence can be found here:https://red-line-guidebook.netlify.app/
