ADDIS ABABA
By Addis Getachew
The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Tuesday held a special session to discuss means of confronting sexual violence within the context of conflict situations.
A concept paper circulated at the council session admitted that, while significant steps had been taken to address the problem, there was still no policy framework or roadmap spelling out how to stem conflict-related sexual violence, exploitation and abuse.
"The session is expected to outline a broad framework for future intervention and concrete action in this arena, including in developing an appropriate policy framework and roadmap for intervention in the future," the paper read.
The session, it added, was also aimed at "ensuring that the issue of sexual violence is adequately addressed by the PSC, especially in its decision-making process."
Addressing attendees, Konjit Sinegiorgis, Ethiopia's special representative to the African Union and current council chair, slammed the use of sexual violence in conflict situations as "despicable."
"It is critical to emphasize the need to combat impunity in all conflict situations," she said. "Appropriate legal measures should be taken against those who commit these horrendous crimes."
"In most of our countries, sexual violence is a crime where we stigmatize the victims and not the criminals," she added. "This should not be allowed to happen."
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