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.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think that is extremely important.

I feel uncomfortable with the idea that it's wrong to tackle this sort of violence.

I'm also not convinced that it's futile unless attitudes in the UK change at the same pace - war zones aren't isolated places, and I don't think they ever were really. We all see the news, don't we? And I think horrific stories like those of the women hanged in Pakistan actually normalise violence against women in the UK, because it is so easy to say 'well, it's much worse over there, so it must be pretty ok over here'.

Maybe if it were clear that the UK doesn't tolerate violence elsewhere, it'd be harder for people to believe that.

[MmeLindor]

I agree with the theory that eradicating rape culture, and achieving equality for women would likely bring an end to rape in conflict zones, but the women are being raped and killed NOW, and it is hugely disrespectful to them to say 'we are going to solve the big picture first'. Especially when we are (unfortunately) far from reaching that consensus.

This is theory and academic discussion to us. It is life and death for women in war zones, and anything that we/politicians/UN/Angelina Jolie can do to better the situation right now is to be welcomed.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

YY, agree with that Mme.

[TheSameBoat]

Tunip, of course, short term and long term are both needed. And yes, we're privileged here.

What I'm trying to say is ... I read an article yesterday defending Joey Barton for his QT "slip up". The article was one thing, the comments underneath were another. The vitriol towards women, the ridicule, the reduction of women to their body parts and their fuckability was shocking.

These are men who live here, in the UK, who are quite possibly our brothers or husbands. They may just be having a laugh and they may not perpetuate rape itself but they most certainly contribute to a culture that does. A global culture.

But you're right, in the meantime, immediate measures are needed.

As for the "real men don't rape" slant that WH alluded to, is that the only way to stop rape, to appeal to these men's sense of manhood? It smacks of "she is someone's daughter, sister, mother". Women are people. Men who aren't on your side are people. It should be that simple.

[TheSameBoat]

Mme Lindor, of course I agree with you. We need to do both, the big picture and measures that will more immediately help the women and men who are in the thick of it. Of course it is academic for me because 1) I'm not in a war zone and 2) I have the political power of a gnat!

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

I wasn't for a minute suggesting that sexual violence in war zones is not an urgent issue- of course it is and anything we can do to mitigate that right now and to save women from that violence right now has to be worth doing.

My comment was in response to what was the 'low hanging fruit' - i.e. the easiest problem to solve, and my 'common sense' told me that it would be easier for men to believe in the humanity of women they know rather than those that they don't. Common sense is often wrong though so thanks for the reading suggestion Tunip, I shall order it.

[MmeLindor]

Agree with that, SameBoat - the 'she could you your sister' troubles me too. As it is not enough to say 'she is a human being'.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

And just very generally speaking discussing issues when there's a genuine desire to understand better and then move forwards in the best and most effective ways is a good thing to do I feel.

It may sometimes sound a bit detached or academic but I don't feel it's "hugely disrespectful" - though tbf that phrase was used in a slightly different context (relating to the idea of wanting to fix the bigger picture first)

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

God I'm slow.

If most women know their attacker (outside of wartime) Then clearly most rapists rape women they know Shutting up and going off to learn...

[MmeLindor]

Sorry, if that was too strong. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I find it troubling when activism is dismissed as not being enough, as I firmly believe in taking little steps to achieving great changes.

[FairPhyllis]

I have to say I'm not convinced that the idea of targeting military training as part of tackling sexual violence in conflict is going to help with the majority of contexts where it happens right now, although anything that can be done is obviously welcome.

Although rape in conflict has often been used and directed as a tool of war by governments, in most recent times rape on a mass scale in conflict has happened primarily in civil wars, often in the context of genocide (Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Rwanda, DRC, Colombia, Sudan ... ). If you're talking about the context of a civil war, you're not just dealing with regular soldiers. You're very often talking about ordinary men who've ended up in militias and guerrilla groups, and whether or not they choose to take advantage of a lawless situation to rape I would think will depend largely on their attitude to women in peacetime.

That's why I think to solve the problem in the long term you have to win the battle in peacetime first, while respecting MmeLindor's point.

And if you get to the point where people want to exterminate another ethnic group, it is already too late to prevent mass rape happening, because it is an integral part of genocide. So preventing genocides in the first place is the way to go, not saying, "Should a genocide break out, could you kindly abstain from sexual violence?"

[IceBeing]

Many interesting points made by all sides. It is just a shame that none of this subtlety can be examined in a 45 min webchat!

I wonder if webchatees aver come back and look at the threads after the fact?

I have been left with the horrible feeling that I somehow missed the chance to say exactly the right thing, or make the perfect elevator pitch and have failed to make the world a better place as a result!

But even the chance to converse with people in serious positions of power is pretty amazing.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I bet they do come back and read how the discussion developed later, or at least some of their advisers do. I mean I would, wouldn't you?

[KateHMumsnet]

Hi all,

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have commissioned an animated video for their campaign, you can view it here. Please do share if you want to!

[Lioninthesun]

Would it be possible to ensure that aid abroad went to at least some Women's Aid charities - or charities that solely benefit women?
I think a lot of people would feel happier thinking that women, and therefore their children were happier globally rather than it going to dodgy businessmen.

[SuburbanCrofter]

MmeLindor, I know your comment was several pages ago, but I might be able to answer you.

I have worked with various humanitarian agencies (which are sometimes funded by the UK government), and can assure you that sanitary protection is considered. For example when people are displaced by conflict or natural disaster, agencies that specialise in water and sanitation provision will provide sanitary products as part of their distribution (discretely of course). In fact I have even seen cotton reusable sanitary towels designed specially for this purpose!

In addition, agencies usually recognise that privacy is an issue, and that women and girls do not want to be seen washing their sanitary products (or undertaking other hygiene-related activities), so will work with communities to provide separate, private facilities that women and girls cannot easily be seen entering.

Sorry for long reply, but I thought you might find this interesting!

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

I'm pretty sure that a civil servant will watch this thread for a week or so..

[BiscuitCrumb]

Excellent webchat MNHQ. And excellent and though provoking posts from my fellow MNers. Makes me proud to part of this little community.

[SuburbanCrofter]

Hi Billin, do you mean me?? Nothing could be further from the truth, believe me! A quick look at my posting history should confirm...

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Oh no, no one in particular! Just that I would have thought someone would keep an eye on things like this once they've been agreed to in the first place.

[SuburbanCrofter]

Interestingly, the sexual violence in conflict conference that Hague is showcasing here is run by a PR firm.