[JURIST] The United Nations Security Council [official website] on Friday condemned [press release] the use of sexual violence as a “tactic of war” in Iraq and Syria. Following a briefing by UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura [official website], the council emphasized that rape and other forms of “serious sexual violence” are war crimes and violate the Geneva convention [Red Cross backgrounder]. The council went on to urge members of the international community to hold those responsible accountable, and underscored the importance of women’s rights, especially in areas of conflict.

The human rights abuses in Syria and Iraq are of particular concern to the UN Security Council. Although various conflicts in those regions are ongoing, the insurgence of the Islamic State into Syria and Iraq since 2013 has caused increasing international alarm for its human rights abuses [JURIST report]. Last month the US State Department said that the US and Turkey have agreed to establish [JURIST report] a ‘safe zone’ for Syrian refugees fleeing the Islamic State. In June, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee said that extremist groups’ destruction of antiquities and heritage sites in conflict zones could amount to war crimes [JURIST report]. In March the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 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 and the High Commissioner for Human Rights jointly released [JURIST report] a report detailing violations against Iraqi civilians under the spread of IS.