According to the UN and Ukrainian officials, Russian forces in Ukraine are allegedly raping men and boys.
“I have received allegations, not yet verified… concerning sexual abuse instances against men and boys in Ukraine,” the UN special representative to stop rape in war Pramila Patten said in Kyiv.
Male rape survivors, she claimed, would have a difficult time reporting the incident.
“It’s difficult for women and girls to report (rape) for a variety of reasons, but it’s frequently much more difficult for men and boys to tell… “We need to establish that safe environment for all victims of sexual abuse to come forward and report their cases,” she added.
“I’m working with many UN agencies to guarantee that services tailored to the needs of men and boys are available,” she said. “I’ve seen a shortage of services tailored to the needs of men and boys everywhere in many crisis scenarios,” she said.
‘Tip of the Iceberg”
Patten implored survivors to come forward, saying that the dozens of recorded and under investigation instances were only the “tip of the iceberg.” “I guarantee you that international law will not be a hollow promise.” Tomorrow’s prosecution will be based on today’s documentation. “I also want you to know that when conflicts start, your rights don’t cease,” she added.
“Women’s rights do not stop when conflicts begin,” she said. Your bodies are not a battleground, and they should never be treated as such.”
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, joined her during a news conference in Kyiv.
“One of the most subtle sorts of crime,” Stefanishyna said of sexual assault in battle. As a result, she claimed, gathering precise figures was impossible.
“We’ve started gathering this information today with the help of volunteers, working with medical facilities, and recording these incidents outside of criminal procedures,” she added.
Iryna Venediktova, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, claimed Moscow has exploited rape as a planned strategy. “Of course, the goal is to terrify civil society… “I’m going to do everything in my power to compel Ukraine to yield,” she declared.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, more than five million people have fled the country, making it the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II.
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Published By: Aman Gupta
Edited By: Vanshika Sahu
