"We did it": UN adds Russia to "list of shame" over sexual violence against detainees and POWs
The United Nations has for the first time added Russia and Israel to its annual blacklist of parties responsible for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
Despite limited access for international investigators, the UN has reported 310 verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilian detainees in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Most of the victims were men, according to The Washington Post.
Source: The Washington Post
Details: Oleksii Sivak, founder of Alumni, an NGO which supports male survivors of torture, told Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia (Life): "We did it. I heard so often that it was impossible, but there were people who believed in us and made every effort to make the impossible possible.
For the state, this is a major mechanism for fighting Russia in international forums. But this is only the first step towards real justice and holding perpetrators accountable."
The Alumni network has been advocating for this decision since late 2024 together with other organisations representing former prisoners and torture survivors, including SEMA Ukraine, 29 December, and Numo, Sestry!
The report also states that Ukrainian human rights groups have documented at least 31 cases of sexual violence against prisoners of war and civilian detainees. However, the actual number of such crimes is believed to be significantly higher.
Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the allegations of CRSV are "groundless lies that once again portray Russia as a villain".
Overall, the 35-page UN report documents cases of sexual violence in more than ten countries around the world. It lists 77 state and non-state actors responsible for such crimes.
Israel has also been added to the blacklist for the first time due to sexual violence committed against Palestinians between 2023 and 2025. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the decision reflects the UN's "longstanding institutional hostility towards Israel".
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned both Israel and Russia back in 2024 that they could be added to the list because of documented violations.
In addition to the Israeli and Russian armed forces, the list also includes Hamas militants, who were added following the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.
According to the UN, the number of CRSV cases worldwide has increased by 87% over the past two years.
Background: At the end of 2024, Ukrainian survivors of wartime sexual violence sent a collective letter to António Guterres urging him to add Russia to the so-called "list of shame", one of the mechanisms for holding states accountable for such crimes.
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