PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 June 2023.

UK announces new sanctions holding perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict to account.

• perpetrators of sexual violence in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Syria will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans
• this action on International Day for Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict demonstrates the UK’s commitment to hold offenders to account
• UK is working with partners to support countries around the world to strengthen their compliance with international law on Conflict Related Sexual Violence

New sanctions holding perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones to account have been introduced by the UK today (Monday 19 June) on the International Day to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Lord Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, announced the sanctions, which will freeze the assets and ban those targeted from travelling to the UK. The sanctions, which build on previous UK action in this area, send a clear message of solidarity with survivors and condemnation of these illegal acts.

These latest sanctions target 2 militia leaders in the DRC for violating international humanitarian law by commanding groups to carry out acts of sexual violence. They also include the Syrian Army Chief and Minister of Defence who authorised sexual and gender-based violence, including systematic rape of civilians.

In the last year the UK has sanctioned 15 individuals and entities who have committed specific human rights violations against women and girls, 13 of whom were involved in crimes of sexual violence in conflict.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said:

Threats of sexual violence as a weapon in conflict must stop and survivors must be supported to come forward.

These sanctions send a clear signal to perpetrators that the UK will hold you accountable for your horrendous crimes.

An estimated 20 to 30% of women and girls in conflict-affected areas experience sexual violence. The UK is committed to standing up for women and girls, and tackling the inequalities that they face. The FCDO’s Women and Girls Strategy, published in March, sets out how the UK will work to tackle global gender inequality at every opportunity. For the first time, this strategy commits the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to more than 80% of its bilateral aid programmes including a focus on gender equality by 2030.

As part of the UK’s wider work on this issue, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has funded a Guidebook on State Obligations on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. Produced by the Mukwege Foundation, which will support states around the world to understand and comply with international law on conflict-related sexual violence.

These announcements deliver on UK commitments made at the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference (November 2022) to use all levers at our disposal to address sexual violence in conflict.

Those sanctioned today are:

• Abdel Karim Mahmoud Ibrahim, the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces who has been involved in the repression of the Syrian population through commanding military forces where there has been systematic use of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence
• Ali Mahmoud Abbas, the Syrian Minister of Defence for his commanding role of the Syrian military and armed forces, who have systematically used rape, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence against civilians
• Désiré Londroma Ndjukpa who has been involved in violations of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including rape, mass rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, through his role as a leader of the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO-URDPC)
• William Yakutumba who has been involved in the commission of violations of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including rape, mass rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, through his role as leader of the armed Mai-Mai Yakutumba rebel group

The sanctions build on those CRSV-focused sanctions that were announced in December as part of our Global Human Rights Day package and in March for International Women’s Day.