Paris: Rapes and sexual attacks attributed to Moscow’s forces in Ukraine are a part of a Russian “navy strategy” and a “planned tactic to dehumanise the sufferers”, UN envoy Pramila Patten instructed AFP in an interview.
“All the warning signs are there,” the UN unique consultant on sexual violence instructed AFP on Thursday, whilst requested if rape become getting used as a weapon of conflict in Ukraine.
“When ladies are held for days and raped, whilst you begin to rape little boys and guys, whilst you see a chain of genital mutilations, whilst you pay attention ladies testify approximately Russian squaddies prepared with Viagra, it is surely a navy strategy,” she stated.
“And whilst the sufferers record what become stated for the duration of the rapes, it’s miles surely a planned tactic to dehumanise the sufferers.”
The United Nations has verified “extra than one hundred instances” of rape or sexual attacks in Ukraine considering that Russia invaded in February, Ms Patten stated, relating to a UN record launched in past due September.
The record “showed crimes towards humanity dedicated with the aid of using the Russian forces, and consistent with accumulated testimonies, the age of the sufferers of sexual violence levels from 4 to 82-years-old,” she stated.
The sufferers are frequently ladies and girls, however additionally guys and boys, she added.
But “stated instances are handiest the end of the iceberg,” she added.
“It’s very tough to have dependable information for the duration of an lively conflict, and the numbers will in no way mirror reality, due to the fact sexual violence is a silent crime” that is basically underreported, she stated.