The meeting with Ms. Pramila Patten, Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, was not only a diplomatic milestone for us but also a moment of deep connection between vision and action. Patten, one of the most influential and active women in the international arena in this field, visited Israel shortly after the terrorist attack on October 7. During her team’s meeting in Israel with Professor Bitton, they were presented with the challenges of collecting evidence for sexual crimes. In the report she published following her visit, Patten included a powerful chapter titled “Challenges and Limitations of Information on CRSV,” which addressed the challenges of collecting and documenting information in situations of sexual crimes during combat. The report we wrote posits this issue at its center.
In the meeting, we discussed the importance of establishing rapid and effective mechanisms for identifying sexual crimes in extreme situations, and the role of democratic countries like Israel in creating a new international standard. Patten shared her extensive experience in conflict zones around the world, and we brought the local voice of the victims, the field, and the urgent need for justice. From the dialogue emerged a deep understanding of the need to create bridges between civil, research, and governmental actions so that the world is better prepared to address the phenomenon, and especially not to turn to denial when sexual violence becomes a weapon.
