UN adds Israel and Russia to blacklist for sexual violence in armed conflicts

The United Nations has added Israel and Russia to its annual blacklist of countries and groups that commit sexual violence in armed conflicts, according to a UN report reviewed Thursday by AFP. This decision represents a significant diplomatic development that could affect international relations and accountability mechanisms.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had warned both countries in August about possible inclusion on the list. The blacklist is part of the Secretary-General's annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, which aims to document and prevent such crimes in war zones around the world.

The decision regarding Israel relates to allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. According to a letter shared by Israel's UN ambassador, Guterres informed Israel that there had been an 'increasing number of cases' of sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners. UN investigators also cited 'continued denial of access' by Israeli authorities as a significant obstacle to their work.

Russia's inclusion on the list appears to be connected to its military operations in Ukraine. Similar to the situation with Israel, UN investigators faced difficulties in accessing relevant areas and obtaining cooperation from Russian authorities for their investigations.

Israel has reacted strongly to the decision, announcing that it will cut ties with the UN chief over its inclusion on the sexual violence blacklist. The Israeli government has rejected the allegations and criticized the UN decision as unjustified and biased.

However, UN experts have defended the decision. Reem Alsalem, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, described Israel's addition to the blacklist as 'long overdue.' Writing on X, she stated that 'this listing could not have come soon enough' and referred to 'systematic, large-scale and horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Israel against Palestinian women.'

The UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts was first introduced in 2009 and is updated annually. It serves as an accountability tool designed to pressure listed actors to take measures to prevent such crimes and protect civilians in conflict zones.

The inclusion of both Israel and Russia represents a significant escalation in international criticism of their conduct in armed conflicts. For both countries, the listing adds to existing international pressure and scrutiny of their military operations and treatment of civilians.

The decision also highlights ongoing challenges in documenting and prosecuting sexual violence in conflict areas, particularly when the countries involved deny access to UN investigators or limit cooperation with international monitoring mechanisms. This lack of access makes it difficult for investigators to gather comprehensive evidence and provide full accountability for alleged crimes.

The blacklist naming is expected to have diplomatic repercussions and may influence future international discussions about accountability for sexual violence in armed conflicts.