Hadassah Response to UN Secretary-General’s 2023 Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

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Media Contact:
Claire Lee
hadassah@rational360.com
+1-860-671-0362

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NEW YORK, NY — In response to the release of the 2023 Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence, Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz released the following statement:

“It is heartbreaking to see the UN’s report showing record levels of conflict-related sexual violence in 2023. Rape should never be used as a weapon of war. Documented evidence clearly shows that Hamas is responsible for carrying out systemic sexual violence against Israeli women and girls on October 7, as well as for inflicting sexual violence on innocent civilian hostages it kidnapped and continues to hold. By failing to directly attribute the sexual violence committed on October 7 to Hamas, the UN is, however, falling short on promoting justice for Israeli women and girls and is sending a message to terrorists that they will not be held accountable. Hadassah and the over 140,000 people around the world who joined our End The Silence campaign call on Secretary-General Guterres to support an independent, unbiased, trauma-informed investigation into Hamas’ war crimes, condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization, and seek justice for the victims.”

About Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America:

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, donors and supporters, Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health care. Through its Jerusalem-based hospital system, the Hadassah Medical Organization, Hadassah helps support exemplary care for more than 1 million people every year as well as world-renowned medical research. Hadassah’s hospitals serve without regard to race, religion or nationality and in 2005 earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for building bridges to peace through medicine. Hadassah also supports two youth villages that set at-risk youth in Israel on the path to a successful future. Visit www.hadassah.org or follow Hadassah on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads and X.