| answer text |
We are extremely concerned by the high levels of sexual violence in Syria and within
Syrian refugee camps. The UN Commission of Inquiry report of September 2015 highlighted
widespread sexual abuse carried out by the Syrian regime, ISIL and some armed opposition
groups within Syria. Assad’s forces and militia are responsible for the vast majority
of sexual violence, which include threats, rape, degrading body searches and sexual
harassment in prisons and branches of the security agencies. ISIL propaganda condones
the barbaric treatment of male and female captives, sexual relations with adolescent
girls and sexual slavery. Unfortunately, many of those who flee the conflict remain
extremely vulnerable to sexual violence. Exploitation of vulnerable individuals within
refugee camps was highlighted by the UN Equity for Gender Equality and Empowerment
of Women report “We keep Silent” issued in April 2014. The UK is providing £1 billion
in humanitarian aid, which includes support to the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) to provide services for survivors of sexual violence and has so far reached
over 27,000 women in Syria. We are also supporting case management in Jordan for over
800 survivors and cash assistance to vulnerable refugee women in Lebanon. The FCO
has committed £5.2 million to projects preventing sexual violence in Syria. We are
supporting projects to train health professionals and human rights defenders in collecting
and preserving evidence of human rights abuses including sexual violence.
|
|
