On 19 January Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, spoke passionately about the need to recognise sexual violence as one of the greatest peace and security challenges of our time.
Jointly organised by three All-Party Parliamentary Groups (on the UN; on women, peace and security; and on global security), the event was part of Ms Wallström's three-day visit to the UK, during which she also met with key officials in government and Parliament to drum up support for her mandate.
Ms Wallström was appointed in February 2010 to lead the UN's response to sexual violence as a tactic and consequence of war, including through UN Security Council Resolutions 1820 and 1888. She has made four field visits to date – two to the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, one to Liberia and one to Bosnia and Herzogovina.
Addressing a large audience of NGO representatives, Parliamentarians, academics and UNA-UK supporters, she emphasised that sexual violence is a crime, a human rights violation and a war tactic, and powerfully conveyed the testimonies of the women she met in the field.
