UK secretary of state: Global silence on sexual violence in conflict must end

UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper warns that sexual violence in conflict is escalating at an alarming rate and that the international community has failed to address it effectively. In a powerful opinion piece for Politico, she calls for urgent action to combat the systemic use of rape and sexual slavery as weapons of war, stressing the need for women to be seen not just as victims but as essential agents in peacebuilding.

Cooper paints a harrowing picture of the atrocities women face in conflict zones, particularly in Sudan, where sexual violence has reached devastating levels. She recounts gut-wrenching stories of women being gang-raped in public, mothers threatened with the rape of their children, and survivors subjected to further violence after witnessing their loved ones' murders.

These abuses are not isolated incidents, Cooper argues, but part of a deliberate strategy to terrorise communities and disrupt societal stability. She highlights that up to 30 per cent of women and girls in conflict zones worldwide are affected by sexual violence, with the number of reported cases rising significantly in recent years.

Despite international commitments, including the UN's landmark 2000 Security Council Resolution 1325—which recognised the importance of protecting women in conflict and involving them in peace processes—Cooper laments that progress has stalled.

The resolution, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, has not resulted in the expected change. She notes that in 2024, reports of sexual violence in conflict rose by 25 per cent from the previous year. Furthermore, the number of women living near armed conflict has soared by 74 per cent since 2010, putting millions more at risk of violence.

In response, Cooper outlines the UK's efforts to address the crisis. The UK is providing technical support to war crimes investigations in Ukraine and funding specialised investigators to assist in UN missions in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.

Additionally, Cooper stresses the importance of combating the stigma that often prevents survivors from speaking out and supports initiatives to provide aid to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza.

But Cooper is clear that addressing the immediate violence is only part of the solution. Women must also be central to the peace process itself. She highlights the examples of women leaders like Monica McWilliams and Pearl Sagar, who played key roles in the peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, and Leymah Gbowee, whose efforts helped end the civil war in Liberia. Cooper argues that, for lasting peace to be achieved, women must be included as full participants in peace talks and the rebuilding of war-torn societies.

Cooper also points to the UK’s domestic work to tackle violence against women and girls and emphasises that this mission must extend to foreign policy as well. 

"We will step up international collaboration to address these horrific harms that should have been consigned to the history books. Because we know there cannot be peace, security or prosperity without women playing their full part, free from violence and free from fear," she concludes the op-ed. 

By Sabina Mammadli