At a UNSC´s meeting to present her annual report, Patten stated this is an upturn of over 50% of the rates in 2022, with main spots in Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Patten´s briefing warned of restrictions caused by sexual violence on women’s access to livelihoods and education for girls amid record levels of displacement.

“The essential task we face is to silence the guns and broadens the voices of women as a critical constituency for peace,” Patten ensured.

The recorded rise is particularly alarming in a global context where humanitarian access is severely restricted and limited, she noted.

Likewise, the research warns of unprecedented use of lethal violence to keep survivors quiet, with special mention of ongoing conflicts in DRC and Myanmar.

Armed actors have also threatened health workers in Sudan, while human rights defenders in South Sudan, DRC and elsewhere have been facing up reprisals.

95% percent of cases in 2023 affected women and girls, while 32 % of incidents were reported against children, overwhelmingly against girls.

At least 21 cases found targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people.

omr/npg/ebr