During the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s, it is estimated that in Bosnia- Herzegovina 50,000 women were systematically raped in Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War; at least 500,000 women were brutally raped in Rwanda in the first recorded case of mass rape as an act of genocide. 

During 20 years of protracted conflict that has left 1.4 million displaced people in Northern Uganda, the Lords Resistance Army kidnapped tens of thousands of girls, forcing them into sexual slavery; in Colombia, armed groups have repeatedly raped women displaced by 40 years of civil war; and only this week, the New York Times stated that “In Sudan, the Government has turned Darfur into a rape camp.”  This pattern appears to be being brutally repeated in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

These statistics do not come close to conveying the immense human suffering that they represent, a human suffering that is mostly being borne by women and girls. 

There is increasing evidence from UN agencies and human rights bodies that, particularly in conflict zones, rape is being used to terrorize, brutalize and punish civilian populations who find themselves caught between militias, the military and civilian ‘police’ forces. 

This is mass rape, gang rape, and rape of such extreme violence that it deliberately kills and severely maims the women and girls who are the primary prey of the combatants.

To date, the world has largely turned a blind eye to the fate of women who have been the targets of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations. 

Despite clear evidence that these are war crimes, the perpetuators of sexual violence have been allowed to commit their crimes with impunity, safe in the knowledge that no one would ever come looking for them, that no one would ever bring them to justice.

This may be about to change with yesterday’s passing of a United Nations Security Council Resolution that will move the Security Council towards adopting a more systematic approach to sexual violence and rape. 

The UN system will be required to collect and analyze information on sexual violence in conflict situations and to lay the evidence at the doors of those governments and States who allow the use of rape and sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon of war.

This move has been led by the United States, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which is commendable. 

Sadly, this position is fatally undermined by the ideological posturing of the Bush Administration which seeks to deny critical sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception and safe abortion, to women and girls who have suffered rape and sexual violence.

Whether women and girls most at risk will feel more secure now that the Security Council has passed this Resolution is a moot point. 

After all, its precursor, Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, adopted eight years ago, was supposed to address these issues. 

Nonetheless, the Security Council has been inconsistent in addressing sexual violence and rape and this is one factor that has allowed Darfur to become that ‘rape camp’.

What is needed now is tough and resolute action; otherwise all the finely crafted UN Resolutions in the world won’t make a difference to women and girls in conflict zones.  The vast majority will instead continue to live in fear and oppression, denied their human rights and unable to access the most basic healthcare and psychosocial care and support so critical to their wellbeing.

Yet, even while this tentative progress is being made, we must look beyond conflict and post-conflict situations if we are to address the wider issues of violence and sexual violence against women. 

In some communities in Pakistan, rape is used as a punishment for perceived wrongs to an individual, his family or community. 

In Papua New Guinea rape has become so common place, and women so inured to it, that some women who take buses between towns are known to insert a female condom before doing so because they are almost certain to be raped; this is the only practical way they can protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and from unwanted pregnancy. 

While we may not be able to fully eradicate sexual violence in the short term, the UN Resolution will serve as a first measure of the international community’s commitment to being serious about condemning rape. 

This Resolution calls for States to strengthen their health systems and provide assistance to victims of sexual violence, including the provision of adequate sexual and reproductive health services.

Only these actions will help the women and girls who are the victims of sexual violence, a conflict-driven ‘epidemic’.

Dr. Gill Greer is the Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, a leading service provider and advocate for global sexual and reproductive health and rights.