Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Ms. Patten’s visit comes against the backdrop of UN bodies such as the UN Women organization ignoring the reports of the appalling cases that have been uncovered.
This morning (Monday, 29 January 2024), Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict began her visit to Israel. Ms. Patten started her series of meetings in Israel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and met with the Political Director of the MFA, Ms. Aliza Ben Nun.
Patten was invited by the Foreign Ministry so that she could receive an unmediated impression of the extent of the atrocities and then bring Hamas’ crimes to the attention of the proper international authorities.
Her visit comes against the backdrop of UN bodies such as the UN Women organization ignoring the reports of the appalling cases that have been uncovered.
During her visit, Ms. Patten will meet with survivors, witnesses, treatment professionals, and representatives of the police and other security forces in order to collect evidence of the sexual violence that Hamas committed against women and men during the 7 October attack.
In the course of the coming week, Patten and her delegation are expected to meet with governmental and civil society representatives, as well as to tour southern Israel, accompanied by a team of experts.
Ms. Patten is expected to present the findings of her visit to the Secretary-General of the UN for inclusion of the events of 7 October as part of the UN’s annual report on sexual violence.