Hadassah Addresses Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Issues

The UN’s annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is observed every year; this year, from Nov. 25, 2025, to Dec. 10, 2025. This period begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on International Human Rights Day. On the first day, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, led 29 groups in urging UN leaders to help deter future acts of conflict-related sexual violence by advancing justice and accountability.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, and UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, the groups express their deep-seated concern that conflict-related sexual violence had reached record levels for the second consecutive year, as reported in the 2024 Report of the Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Violence. The UN took a critical first step by blacklisting Hamas as a party credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for committing sexual violence, but additional action is needed.

Phyllis M. Cohen, past president and advisor to Hadassah Greater Atlanta, explains, “We at Hadassah, and our partners, call on the UN to ensure that justice and accountability are not optional.”

“The rise of conflict-related sexual violence is a crisis of global proportions,” said Carol Ann Schwartz, national president, Hadassah. “Leaders around the world must take urgent action to ensure that terrorists and bad actors like Hamas are no longer emboldened to weaponize rape.”

Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism, and promoting women’s health care. The letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres also calls on the UN to advance the adoption of an international protocol, modeled on survivor-centered frameworks, to guide countries in how to prevent, investigate and respond to conflict-related sexual violence. For more information please visit www.hadassah.org.