Act Now!

On June 19, 2008, the United Nations Security Council affirmed in a unanimous vote that sexual violence against women is a war crime. As the United States begins its turn as the rotating president of the Security Council, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opened the session by explaining that sexual violence against women is a security concern and must be addressed. She stated: "We affirm that sexual violence profoundly affects not only the health and safety of women, but the economic and social stability of their nations."

The Security Council also acknowledged sexual violence against women carried out by their own United Nations peacekeepers. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reiterated a zero-tolerance policy for its workers guilty of such crimes. 

The resolution orders all people involved in armed conflicts to stop the use of sexual violence against civilians and also asks the Secretary-General to collect information on the occurrence of sexual violence and report it to the Security Council.

Secretary Rice explained, “When women and girls are preyed upon and raped, the international community cannot be silent or inactive. It is our responsibility to be their advocates and their defenders. We are taking an important step today that will enable us better to meet that goal.”

Thank Secretary Rice for her leadership and support in ending sexual violence against women by emailing her today at comments@whitehouse.gov.

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