Editorial
Ending sexual violence in conflict and beyond Today’s Lancet has a special focus on sexual violence in conflict to coincide with the first Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, June 10–14. War zone sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence inflict extreme suffering and represent serious violations of human rights. These crimes leave physical, psychological, social, and economic scars on individuals, families, and communities. And shamefully, most of the perpetrators are never brought to justice. The summit will be chaired by the UK’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, who have both championed efforts to end war zone sexual violence globally for the past 2 years. It will bring together more than 1800 representatives from over 113 countries from health, legal, military, government, and academic sectors alongside non-governmental and multilateral organisations, civil society, and the public. As well as bringing attention and awareness to the issue, the summit’s aims are to agree on practical steps that will drive change on the ground. The summit mainly focuses on reducing impunity, security and justice sector reform, survivor-centric support, and improving multilateral responses. Notably, several of the 151 countries that have signed up to the G8 Declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict are places where serious abuses (sexual and otherwise) are known to take place. These countries have weak judicial systems and poor human rights records, so sessions on accountability at the summit are welcome. One highlight will be the launch of a new International Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. These expert-driven surveys aim to capture experiences of sexual violence and other forms of violence before, during, and after conflict. They will focus on health aspects, and particularly mental health. The Protocol should contribute to a more standardised approach to measuring conflict-related sexual violence. As highlighted by Rachel Jewkes in a compelling Art of Medicine piece, researching warzone violence is extremely challenging. And the difficulties of preventing and responding to it are compounded by little evidence on the effectiveness of interventions. Therefore, it is encouraging that the UK’s Department of International www.thelancet.com Vol 383 June 14, 2014
Development will launch a multimillion pound “What works” research programme at the summit to tackle some of these gaps. The summit’s focus on cracking down on impunity is important but should not detract from the health, wellbeing, and safety needs of those affected. In a Comment, Claudia GarcÍa-Moreno quite rightly calls for a sustainable multisectoral approach to the problem which includes health sector engagement. What the content in this issue emphasises is that sexual violence in conflict does not happen in isolation, but that it is one form in an ongoing broad spectrum of violence that is particularly pervasive against women and girls. Indeed, according to WHO, one in three women worldwide experience intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence in their lifetime. After very intense negotiations that went on all week, the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a historic resolution driven by member states titled: Strengthening the role of the health system in addressing violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children. The resolution requests member states to ensure all people affected by violence have timely, effective, and affordable access to health services. In some ways the resolution is a victory—to tackle an issue that until recently has been marginalised and underfunded. But the draft does not go far enough. Notable omissions in the text are female genital mutilation and child marriage. Certain member states have cultural and societal sensitivities around these issues, so getting agreement is undoubtedly difficult, but this should not prevent continuing work in these areas. WHO will now develop and finalise its first global plan of action on implementing this resolution by the 68th WHA. Gender inequality is at the root of all sexual violence in women and girls. As Charlotte Watts and colleagues say in their Comment, only by abolishing gender inequality and the adverse social structures, practices, and attitudes that support it, will there be meaningful progress. As part of this mission, The Lancet together with Watts and GarcÍa-Moreno are preparing a Series on violence against women, which will aim to be evidence-based, forward looking, and grounded in the realities of women’s lives. In addition to tackling violence, it will make a strong case for gender equality to be at the core of policies for sustainable development and the realisation of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goal agenda. The Lancet
Published Online June 10, 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(14)60972-7 See Comment pages 2021 and 2023 See Special Report page 2034 See Perspectives pages 2038, 2039, and e19
For the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit see https:// www.gov.uk/government/ topical-events/sexual-violencein-conflict For the WHO study see Articles Lancet 2014; 383: 1648–54
2019
Ending sexual violence in conflict and beyond Today’s Lancet has a special focus on sexual violence in conflict to coincide with the first Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, June 10–14. War zone sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence inflict extreme suffering and represent serious violations of human rights. These crimes leave physical, psychological, social, and economic scars on individuals, families, and communities. And shamefully, most of the perpetrators are never brought to justice. The summit will be chaired by the UK’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, who have both championed efforts to end war zone sexual violence globally for the past 2 years. It will bring together more than 1800 representatives from over 113 countries from health, legal, military, government, and academic sectors alongside non-governmental and multilateral organisations, civil society, and the public. As well as bringing attention and awareness to the issue, the summit’s aims are to agree on practical steps that will drive change on the ground. The summit mainly focuses on reducing impunity, security and justice sector reform, survivor-centric support, and improving multilateral responses. Notably, several of the 151 countries that have signed up to the G8 Declaration of commitment to end sexual violence in conflict are places where serious abuses (sexual and otherwise) are known to take place. These countries have weak judicial systems and poor human rights records, so sessions on accountability at the summit are welcome. One highlight will be the launch of a new International Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. These expert-driven surveys aim to capture experiences of sexual violence and other forms of violence before, during, and after conflict. They will focus on health aspects, and particularly mental health. The Protocol should contribute to a more standardised approach to measuring conflict-related sexual violence. As highlighted by Rachel Jewkes in a compelling Art of Medicine piece, researching warzone violence is extremely challenging. And the difficulties of preventing and responding to it are compounded by little evidence on the effectiveness of interventions. Therefore, it is encouraging that the UK’s Department of International www.thelancet.com Vol 383 June 14, 2014
Development will launch a multimillion pound “What works” research programme at the summit to tackle some of these gaps. The summit’s focus on cracking down on impunity is important but should not detract from the health, wellbeing, and safety needs of those affected. In a Comment, Claudia GarcÍa-Moreno quite rightly calls for a sustainable multisectoral approach to the problem which includes health sector engagement. What the content in this issue emphasises is that sexual violence in conflict does not happen in isolation, but that it is one form in an ongoing broad spectrum of violence that is particularly pervasive against women and girls. Indeed, according to WHO, one in three women worldwide experience intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence in their lifetime. After very intense negotiations that went on all week, the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a historic resolution driven by member states titled: Strengthening the role of the health system in addressing violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children. The resolution requests member states to ensure all people affected by violence have timely, effective, and affordable access to health services. In some ways the resolution is a victory—to tackle an issue that until recently has been marginalised and underfunded. But the draft does not go far enough. Notable omissions in the text are female genital mutilation and child marriage. Certain member states have cultural and societal sensitivities around these issues, so getting agreement is undoubtedly difficult, but this should not prevent continuing work in these areas. WHO will now develop and finalise its first global plan of action on implementing this resolution by the 68th WHA. Gender inequality is at the root of all sexual violence in women and girls. As Charlotte Watts and colleagues say in their Comment, only by abolishing gender inequality and the adverse social structures, practices, and attitudes that support it, will there be meaningful progress. As part of this mission, The Lancet together with Watts and GarcÍa-Moreno are preparing a Series on violence against women, which will aim to be evidence-based, forward looking, and grounded in the realities of women’s lives. In addition to tackling violence, it will make a strong case for gender equality to be at the core of policies for sustainable development and the realisation of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goal agenda. The Lancet
Published Online June 10, 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(14)60972-7 See Comment pages 2021 and 2023 See Special Report page 2034 See Perspectives pages 2038, 2039, and e19
For the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit see https:// www.gov.uk/government/ topical-events/sexual-violencein-conflict For the WHO study see Articles Lancet 2014; 383: 1648–54
2019
