On Violence against Women – Statement

Women and children are increasingly the main victims of today’s conventional or non-conventional warfare.

Although entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, women and girls are particularly affected because of their status in society and their sex. In conflict situations, women are often victims of rape, tortures and degrading treatments.

We have witnesses these phenomena in many long-standing conflicts in Africa, in the Ukraine war and most recently in the Middle East.

In this context we wish to express our solidarity with the Israeli women’s movement and denounce the rapes and acts of sexual violence committed during the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October 2023.

We express also our deep sadness for the many Palestinian women – innocent civilian victims of the war in Gaza.

The international community and all religious leaders should raise their voices and advocate the need of protecting more effectively women and girls in conflict situations. Perpetrators of such crimes should be found and brought to justice.

As progressive women from all continents, Socialist International Women will continue to work on this issue, in solidarity with all our sisters.