Bangladesh condemns the growing trends of the use of sexual violence during conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism- Ambassador Masud at UN

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : “Bangladesh condemns and concerns over the growing trends of the use of sexual violence during conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism by both state and non-state actors”, said Masud Bin Momen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the United Nations during an Open Debate at the UN Security Council 15 May, on ‘Sexual Violence in Conflict as a Tactic of War and Terrorism’. He recalled, “During our war of liberation in 1971, there was a mas scale of sexual violence committed against our women and girls, leaving behind 200,000 victims”. Referring the present the PR said, “As we remain engaged in a sustained counter terrorism drive, we see a rather new trend among terrorist and violent extremist to use women and children, mostly family members, to amplify their ranks. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all women and mothers to work as sentinels within their families and to actively contribute to the ‘whole-of-society’ response against violent extremism and radicalization”. Underscoring the importance of prevention of sexual violence as part of the protection of civilians mandate given to peacekeeping missions, the PR said, “We remain committed to training our peacekeepers on sexual and gender-based violence, enhancing the participation of female peacekeepers in our contingents, and encouraging our force and sector commanders to maintain regular interface with the local communities and civil society actors, among others”. The Uruguay Presidency of the Council for this month convened this Open Debate where USA, UK, China, France, Russian Federation, Germany, India and Japan delivered statements along with others 68 other countries.