Fact Check: "The United Nations Office for Human Rights condemned HAMAS for HAMAS's use of sexual violence."
What We Know
The claim that the United Nations Office for Human Rights condemned Hamas for its use of sexual violence is partially true. On December 4, 2023, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered remarks at a special session of the United Nations, where she condemned the use of rape and sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli women and girls, calling the acts "unspeakable" and "barbaric" (Gillibrand Remarks).
However, the response from UN Women, the UN body focused on gender equality, has been criticized for not explicitly condemning Hamas for these acts until several weeks after the attacks on October 7, 2023. Critics, including over 80 U.S. lawmakers, have accused UN Women of failing to adequately address the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas, highlighting a perceived bias in its approach (Uproar Mounts).
On December 1, 2023, UN Women did issue a statement condemning the attacks and acknowledging the reports of gender-based violence, but it faced backlash for not directly naming Hamas in its initial statements (Haaretz). The UN Secretary-General António Guterres also mentioned the need for investigations into the sexual violence during the attacks but did not specifically condemn Hamas in his earlier remarks (UN Press Release).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that while there has been condemnation of the violence against women and girls, the timing and specificity of these condemnations have been contentious. Senator Gillibrand's remarks at the UN were strong and unequivocal in condemning Hamas's actions (Gillibrand Remarks). However, the broader UN response, particularly from UN Women, has been criticized for its lack of direct condemnation of Hamas until significant public pressure mounted (Uproar Mounts, Haaretz).
UN Women has stated that it condemned the attacks and expressed alarm at reports of gender-based violence, but it has also emphasized that it condemns all acts of violence against women, regardless of the perpetrator (Uproar Mounts). This approach has been interpreted by some as a failure to adequately address the specific atrocities committed by Hamas, leading to accusations of bias and a lack of solidarity with the victims (Uproar Mounts, Mideast Journal).
The reliability of the sources varies; statements from government officials and UN representatives are generally credible, but the framing of the issue can be influenced by political agendas. The criticisms from lawmakers and advocacy groups may reflect a particular political perspective, which should be considered when evaluating the overall narrative (Uproar Mounts, Haaretz).
Conclusion
The claim that the United Nations Office for Human Rights condemned Hamas for its use of sexual violence is partially true. While there have been condemnations of the violence against women and girls, the timing and specificity of these condemnations have led to significant criticism of the UN's response. The UN Women’s initial reluctance to directly name Hamas in its statements has raised concerns about bias and the effectiveness of its advocacy for gender equality in this context.
Sources
- At United Nations, Gillibrand Delivers Remarks ...
- Uproar Mounts Over UN Women's Failure To Single Out ...
- Reasonable Grounds to Believe Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Occurred ...
- The UN's Response to Sexual Violence by Hamas Explained - Mideast Journal
- “More than a human can bear”: Israel's systematic use of ...
- Biden calls for global condemnation of Hamas sexual violence 'without ...
- Report of the Commission of Inquiry: Israel's systematic use ...
- After eight weeks, UN Women condemns Hamas' use of sexual violence on Oct 7
