Live webchat with Foreign Sec William Hague on sexual violence in conflict

[KatieMumsnet]

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, will be joining us for a webchat this Monday (June 2) between 3.15pm and 4pm, to discuss a global campaign to end sexual violence in conflict.

In war zones across the world, sexual violence is used as a devastating weapon - and according to UNICEF, those most at risk are women and their children, both girls and boys. One of the starkest current examples is the conflict in Syria; nearly three out of four refugees who spoke with researchers on their arrival in neighbouring countries last year reported that sexual violence in Syria was on the rise. Earlier this year, JustineMumsnet joined others in highlighting the need for action.

William Hague and Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, will co-chair the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict at ExCel London on June 10-13 2014. The summit, which is set to be the largest-ever gathering on the subject, will hear calls for international leaders to commit to protect women and children in war zones from rape and sexual abuse.

If you've questions for William Hague on the summit, what's likely to be discussed and which measures we can hope for in the wake of it, please do post them now, and come back on Monday to join the discussion.

[FairPhyllis]

Thanks for answering my question. I know domestic policy isn't your remit.

I think that sexual violence in this country could be over within a generation if it were treated like the national security crisis that it is. But it would take a Lyndon B Johnson like figure to do it - and I don't see anyone like that on the radar.

I would also argue that male violence is the world's greatest national security threat. It is the force that propels almost all conflict and terrorism. Why don't we explicitly name and treat it as such?

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Well I must say it makes me very happy to see a Foreign Secretary talking about 'the great strategic prize of the 21st century, which is the full political, social and economic empowerment of women everywhere.'

Do you have opposite numbers in other countries who share your view on this?

[Deniseking]

What do you think the role of non formal education organisations could be like the guides and scouts to help with ending violence against girls everywhere?

[WilliamHagueMP]

@IceBeing

increased recognition by many men that a real man does not commit acts of violence and abuse against women and girls. These are the actions of weak and cowardly men.

I understand the motivation here...I really do. But setting women and girls apart like this is exacerbating the problem rather than solving it.
Anyone who uses superior physical force to abuse or attack anyone is a coward.

By saying someone is especially cowardly to attack a woman or girl is to further perpetuate the damaging idea that women and girls are weaker....more delicate...in need of special treatment and protections. It is this image of women and girls as weak / other / unempowered that produces the issue of violence against women in the first place.

Preventing sexual violence in conflict is predominantly about women and girls as victims/survivors, but it is also about men and boys. There will be a special session devoted to male survivors, so we are not setting women and girls apart in the way that you are worried about.

[WilliamHagueMP]

@AmyMumsnet

Bianca Jagger, via Twitter, asked why were Sri Lankan victims left out?

The Sri Lankan government has so far refused to sign the Declaration on ending sexual violence in conflict. But this does not mean that Sri Lankan victims are left out. One of our main speakers is an expert on Sri Lanka, and we have invited Sri Lankan civil society to attend. We cannot force any government to take part in this initiative but we can certainly raise these issues as they affect any country in the world.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think, with respect, you have missed ice's point (which is also mine).

The rhetoric of 'real men' does set men aside. It implies that it's a good, masculine quality not to be violent - as if not being violent is something wonderful men should be very proud of themselves for achieving.

In my view, this is counter-productive. It should simply be made clear that violence is wrong. Not that it's unmasculine.

[whatusain]

Do you think that the World Cup in Qatar shouldn't go ahead given the latest news of corruption and the awful human rights record during the building of the stadium?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

This is a question from a friend who can't log in: Mr Hague, do you plan on addressing the issues of clean water and sanitation which lead to women and girls in refugee camps being raped when going to fetch the water?

[HollyKay]

What do you see as the role for young people in tackling sexual violence in conflict and how do you see the current youth consultation as a way of integrating the views of young people into this decision and policy making process>

[IceBeing]

Thank you for the reply.

It is fantastically clear your heart is in the right place - just be wary of the effect of using words like 'real men' and 'cowardly' purely in reference to violence against women. I am glad the summit is not purely categorized that way but your use of language already sets male and female apart, the hidden gender biased key words are an obvious spot for those with training.

Maybe the rhetoric could be better made in terms of military violence against civilians rather than male against female?

[WilliamHagueMP]

@speakerexplosion

Hello Mr Hague, thanks for coming on.

What exactly is the UK government doing right now to use our influence to stop events like the stoning in Pakistan/ rapes in India/women giving birth with their feet shackled together in prison in Sudan because of their religion?

We raise such issues through our Embassies and as Ministers, but of course we don't have control over events in other countries. we do often have a big influence and we use that influence wherever we can. But it doesn't always help in individual cases to spell out exactly what we do, as we sometimes can best use our influence behind the scenes.

[IceBeing]

yes- also what LDR said. It isn't only exceptional, strong real men that don't commit violence. It is weak, sometimes cowardly, sometimes strong totally NORMAL men that don't commit violence.

[WilliamHagueMP]

@TunipTheUnconquerable

Well I must say it makes me very happy to see a Foreign Secretary talking about 'the great strategic prize of the 21st century, which is the full political, social and economic empowerment of women everywhere.'

Do you have opposite numbers in other countries who share your view on this?

Yes, but I am trying to make them more vocal! I recently gave a speech about this in Washington with warm approval from Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. And I intend to keep speaking to other Ministers about this until they are sick of hearing about it from me!

[WilliamHagueMP]

Our time is up but thank you for your questions. I am sorry I did not get through all of them but I hope you will do everything you can to support our Summit next week.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Thank you!

[Chocolateisnottheonlyfruit]

Do you think that the violent actions towards women in overseas countries - Pakistan, India, Sudan, etc. - have an effect on the attitudes of people here.

I feel that the news stories contribute to increasing racist attitudes towards people of other cultures in general.

[AndHarry]

No answer to my Q but interesting responses, thanks.

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Thank you for coming, and please keep working on this issue.

[IceBeing]

Just in case you wrap up soon - thank you so much for coming on MN. The 'grand prize' is a fantastic concept and I will be cheering you on every time I hear it mentioned in the years to come.

[FairPhyllis]

Thanks for coming - it would be lovely to have you back again sometime!

[Cocolepew]

That was interesting , thank you.

[IceBeing]

Very very interesting. So glad I caught this web chat!

[MmeLindor]

Hello, and thank you for taking part in this webchat.

When I was in Kenya two years ago, I met a Women's Collective who worked together to fund a water project. One of the issues that they talked about was that young girls are often unable to access sanitary protection.

The girls stay at home to prevent being embarrassed by bloodstained clothes, and because the onset of menstruation is seen in some communities as the girl becoming sexually mature. This puts the girls at risk of unwanted attention - 45 percent of young Kenyan women report that their first sexual experience was non-consensual.

While this isn't in a conflict zone, I wondered if there is work being done by the UK government to assist in this area.

[MmeLindor]

Oh, too late. I thought it was an hour.

Good luck with the summit. I am really impressed with the work of the foreign office, and hope that the campaign can help end sexual violence in conflict.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Thank you for answering many of our questions, I appreciated your answers but we still need more women in government