[JURIST] A UN report [text, PDF] released on Monday stated 2014 was marked by rape, sexual enslavement and forced marriages used by extremists like Boko Haram and the Islamic State. Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon [official website] said in the report that destroying these radical groups is essential [AP report] in the fight against sexual violence. Nineteen countries including Syria, Nigeria, Iraq and Somalia, are trying to emerge from conflict that has resulted in sexual violence, in which 45 groups are credibly suspected of perpetrating these crimes. Congo’s government, in particular, has taken substantial steps to address sexual violence, including prosecuting high-ranking officials for these crimes and compensating victims. Zainab Hawa Bangur [official profile], Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, stated that 2014 has proven “the international community must renew its commitment and apply increased pressure so as not to lose the ground we have gained and to meet the demands of new and emerging threats.”

The Islamic State (IS) [JURIST backgrounder] has caused increasing international alarm over its human rights abuses since its insurgence into Syria and Iraq in 2013. Last month the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] reported that the actions of IS in Iraq may amount to genocide [JURIST report], crimes against humanity and war crimes. Also in March the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the OHCHR jointly released [JURIST report] a report detailing violations against Iraqi civilians under the spread of IS. International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stated in November that the ICC was contemplating bringing war crimes charges against IS jihadist fighters, but said last week that her office lacks jurisdiction [JURIST report] to open a formal investigation into the group. In February IS led suicide bombings in eastern Libya, killing [JURIST report] at least 40 people and injuring 70 more.