US weakens UN resolution on sexual violence with veto threat

New York (dpa) - The UN Security Council bowed to US pressure on Tuesday to remove long-recognized language on women's reproductive health in a resolution on sexual violence during war.

Washington threatened to veto the text - drafted by Germany - over a passage recognizing the importance of providing timely assistance to sexual assault survivors, as it included mention of "sexual and reproductive health," which is understood by the US as a tacit endorsement of abortion.

The resolution was approved in a vote after the entire passage was removed. Germany's ambassador Christoph Heusgen said this option was preferred to replacing a few words, which would set a new precedent in international law.

He indicated the previous language on the same topic would remain valid.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called it a "milestone," but France's UN ambassador Francois Delattre said it was "inexplicable" not to mention sexual and reproductive health when talking about victims of rape and assault.

Delattre said he was worried the threat of a veto was used to "bring into question 25 years of advances" in the field of women's health. "

We do know there are various viewpoints on the part of members of the council on this, but in the precise context of sexual violence in conflict this kind of omission is unacceptable and undermines the dignity of women," Delattre said.

"It is intolerable and incomprehensible that the Security Council is incapable of acknowledging that women and girls who suffered from sexual violence in conflict and who didn't choose to become pregnant should have the right to terminate their pregnancy."

Britain, Belgium and South Africa were among the other members of the council that expressed regret at removing the passage. China and Russia also objected to the text on different grounds, but abstained rather than block the draft with their vetoes.

The resolution was adopted during the signature event of Germany's month-long Security Council presidency.

Nobel Prize winners Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, and human rights barrister Amal Clooney, were also in the day-long debate on sexual violence in conflict.

UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten stressed that ensuring comprehensive services for survivors, including sexual and reproductive health, "could not be more acute," in comments to the council on Tuesday.

(Published by dpa International, April 23, 2019)