27.02.24
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Passy Mubalama, Activist and Executive Director of Aidprofen, our associate member in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was one of the 4 Civil Society speakers selected to address the 55th session of Human Rights Council. She seized the opportunity to denounce the impact of conflict and insecurity on women, girls and small children, and the silence that surrounds this violence. She also made an impassioned plea to Member States to address the root causes of conflicts, and to put an end to the violence and the needless destruction of women and girls' lives.
The following is the full text of Passy’s statement, which was delivered on 28 February by video during the High Level Segment of the 55th session Human Rights Council – viewable on our YouTube Channel or on UN WebTV (at 02:43:18).
▶️ Today, I will share with you Zawadi’s story. Zawadi is a mother of 9. But she doesn’t know the father of her 8th child. She was raped by rebels while fleeing clashes in her village. For fear of reprisals, she never told anyone what happened. The perpetrators were 3 unidentified armed men.
Every year, millions of women around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, fall victim to armed conflict. These violent conflicts, sometimes linked to extremism, do not spare women, young girls and even young children. The women we accompany are victims of arbitrary executions, arrests, rape, sexual assault and many other gender based violence. Others are caught up in sexual slavery, enrolled in forced displacement. Sexual violence against women, young girls and even children is widespread in conflict situations, and is used as a tactic of war. Globally sexual violence is used as a weapon of war and a political weapon.
Many actions are being taken around the world, but the majority of actors are working on the consequences of war rather than on the prevention and root causes of conflict.
The worldwide silence surrounding these atrocities, these war crimes and crimes against humanity, the silence in the face of these women, these young girls and even young children who lose their dignity and whose lives are often shattered, is unimaginable and unacceptable.
Today we call on the UN and member states to take urgent action, to collectively mobilise their resources to put an end to the conflicts and violence that are destroying the lives of women and girls, and tragically reinforcing inequalities between men and women.
We cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow may be too late.
Passy Mubalama’s statement for download
The 55th session UN Human Rights Council takes place from 26 February to 5 April 2024 at the UN in Geneva.
09.07.24
Mothers play an essential role in families by ensuring their loved ones are nourished, educated, and healthy, but their unpaid care work often leads to economic and social injustices, known
29.07.24
UN New York - Our virtual HLPF side-event brought together experts to shed light on how the various global crises we face (in particular climate change and other environmental crises,
21.07.24
UN New York - Participating in the meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on care and support systems, MMM reaffirmed the principle of co-responsibility, which should underpin
06.07.25
From 30 June to 3 July, Make Mothers Matter was in Sevilla, Spain, for the 4th UN International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). Here’s a look back at this major UN event and the key takeaways
05.07.25
Following the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain, we explore why Financing for Development is critical for mothers around the world.
15.06.25
UN Geneva – At the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), Make Mothers Matter (MMM) brought the perspectives of mothers and other unpaid caregivers to two key agenda topics: the transition to formal emp
07.06.25
As part of European Mental Health Week, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) András Kulja and Zoltán Tarr (both EPP) hosted a two-day Mental Health Summit on Prevention and Recovery in Modern Society
07.06.25
Make Mothers Matter was delighted to celebrate and participate in the 40th Anniversary and International Conference of our member, the European Parents’ Association (EPA), hosted by the European Economic and
10.05.25
UN New York – The 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). This landmark global policy document was adopted