UNODC: Terrorist Groups Use Sexual Violence to Terrorise, Control their Victims
Linus Aleke in Abuja The Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cheikh Toure, has said terrorist groups deliberately use sexual and gender-based violence to
Cheikh Toure, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Abuja, has expressed concern over how terrorist groups employ sexual and gender-based violence to terrorize, punish, and control their victims. At a meeting in Abuja, Toure discussed the development of a toolkit for first emergency responders dealing with such cases.
Toure emphasized that the impacts of this violence extend far beyond the initial attack, often lasting years and compounded by stigma, displacement, and barriers to accessing care and justice. He cited the abduction of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in April 2014, which resulted in forced marriages and sexual enslavement, as an example of the devastating consequences of such violence.
Toure stressed that the toolkit's effectiveness relies on the capabilities of the practitioners involved, and warned that the abductions demonstrated that such crimes are not isolated incidents but part of a deliberate method of terror. He highlighted that the issue is global and affects people regardless of their religion, ideology, or terrorist affiliation, necessitating a toolkit that draws from various contexts while prioritizing the rights, safety, and dignity of survivors.
The United Nations General Assembly and Security Council have issued resolutions addressing the issue of sexual violence by terrorist groups, including Resolution 2331 of 2016 and Resolution 2467 of 2019. However, Toure noted that despite these international commitments, their consistent implementation remains a challenge in countries like Nigeria.
First emergency responders often face difficult conditions when dealing with such cases, including ongoing insecurity, mass casualties, limited resources, and the urgent need to save lives. Toure pointed out that signs of sexual violence can be easily missed, evidence destroyed, and survivors may become dispersed, leading to increased stigma.
He explained that the toolkit aims to equip responders with practical guidance for managing such situations, with the primary goal of protecting survivors from further harm. Toure called for the safety and dignity of survivors to remain the foremost concern and emphasized that responders should be aware of the limits of their responsibilities and seek specialist assistance when needed.
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