NEW YORK (ALETIHAD)
Shahad Matar, Second Secretary of the UAE permanent mission to the UN, delivered the UAE statement at the UN Security Council (UNSC) Arria-formula meeting on Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, urging the international community to improve survivors’ access to the necessary services and support, noting the example trapped girl and women in Gaza “with no safe place to go” and reaffirming the UAE’s condemnation of “all acts of conflict-related sexual violence”.

“The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its condemnation of all acts of conflict-related sexual violence. As a member of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the UAE remains a steadfast partner in strengthening the global response to these crimes,” Matar said.

The Second Secretary continued her address by discussing three key points, namely, prioritising the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, strengthening the rule of law to ensure accountability, and improving survivors’ access to necessary services and support.

“As an integral part of our efforts to ensure peace and security, we must prioritise preventing sexual and gender-based violence by addressing the root causes of such crimes”, Matar said, urging the international community to work towards eliminating structural gender inequality and harmful social norms through education, as well as strengthening women and girls’ resilience.

“We need to improve survivors’ access to necessary services and support. To do so, we must take into consideration the needs of women and girls, from early warning mechanisms to the provision of humanitarian aid. I would be remiss if I did not mention here the desperate need of thousands of women and girls trapped in Gaza, cut off from food, water, medicine, electricity, and with no safe place to go,” Matar said, concluding her remarks.