Address in Council of Europe, Carina Hägg (SocDem)

Throughout history, women in flight from danger have suffered sexual harassment and rape during armed conflicts. Even though we do not yet know enough about the mechanisms underlying the systematic use of sexual violence, we do know that they are triggered in some conflicts but not in others. The actions of individuals are crucial. We know that discipline can be strong in the police and the military. Officers can use their authority to stop unacceptable behaviour. We need the power of good examples. UN resolution 1820 focuses specifically on sexual violence towards civilians in armed conflicts. Rape and other forms of sexual violence may constitute a war crime or a crime against humanity. Cooperation within the UN is improving and we can see the emergence of a more unified response towards the use of sexual violence. In 1997 the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg established that the term torture also comprises rape. The Rwanda tribunal in Arusha subsequently established that rape can constitute a strategy in genocide. Sexual violence has been included among the charges in cases tried by the International Court in the Hague. In the same way the Court will be able to try crimes committed in the currently ongoing conflict in Libya. Refugees are affected. I call for stronger political commitment and for unified measures such as the following: - women must be assigned to conflict prevention work and peace negotiations by means of a quota system; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape in connection with armed conflicts must have their cases investigated by public courts rather than by military courts or customary law; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be able to bring class action suits in court; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be eligible for damages; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be provided with health and medical care; - women who suffer sexual violence and rape must be offered morning-after-pills, abortion pills and protection against infection. det talade ordet gäller