Women of Vision of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia joined more than 80 women’s rights organizations in issuing a letter to the UN Secretary General Guterres, demanding the launch of an immediate independent investigation into the gender based violence that were carried out by Hamas. This call comes in response to the recently released Annual UN Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which did not include Hamas in the “blacklist“ appended to the report.

As stated in the issued letter: “There is no doubt about the identity of the Oct. 7 attackers — Hamas explicitly and publicly assumed responsibility for the attack. Nonetheless, in your annual report, you imply that Hamas was not included in the blacklist attached to your report because ‘a full-fledged investigation’ is necessary in order to draw conclusions regarding the attribution of gender-based violence to a specific organization and the prevalence of such acts. As you state, the UN’s fact-finding mission headed by Ms. Patten ‘was not investigative in nature’ and was limited in time. However, in the recommendations of your report there is no mention of the need to initiate a comprehensive UN investigation.”

We strongly implore the UN security general to use the authority of the United Nations and utilize all available resources to initiate an unbiased investigation and to unequivocally demonstrate to the international community that sexual violence is neither an inevitable nor acceptable consequence of armed conflict, and should be condemned under any circumstances.

You can see the full letter below:

June 4, 2024

His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations
760 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017
Cc: Pramila Patton, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict

UN Must Investigate Sexual Violence During War

Dear Secretary-General Guterres,

We are writing to you in response to your annual Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence that was recently published, in which you refrained from including Hamas in the blacklist appended to this report. We call on the UN to initiate a full-fledged investigation on the sexual violence that occurred on Oct. 7 and is continuing in Hamas’ captivity.

The report’s chapter on Israel is based on findings of an official visit to Israel in January and February by Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Special Representative’s report states that there are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence was committed at various locations during the attack on Oct. 7, including instances of rape, gang rape, and individuals found either naked or partially clothed with their hands bound. The report also confirms that the Special Representative was given compelling evidence that sexual violence continues to occur in Hamas captivity.

There is no doubt about the identity of the Oct. 7 attackers — Hamas explicitly and publicly assumed responsibility for the attack. Nonetheless, in your annual report, you imply that Hamas was not included in the blacklist attached to your report because “a full-fledged investigation” is necessary in order to draw conclusions regarding the attribution of gender-based violence to a specific organization and the prevalence of such acts. As you state, the UN’s fact-finding mission headed by Ms. Patten “was not investigative in nature” and was limited in time. However, in the recommendations of your report there is no mention of the need to initiate a comprehensive UN investigation.

As Secretary-General of the UN, your statements and actions have enormous power and impact. In the current era of disinformation and fake news, strong and unbiased action by the UN is crucial to end the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of sexual violence.

We urge you to use the UN’s power and all means available to show the world that sexual violence is not an inevitable consequence of war and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

We call on the UN to immediately initiate an unbiased and independent investigation into Hamas’s conflict-related sexual violence on and after Oct. 7.

Respectfully,

Israel Women’s Network | Jewish Women International | Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America | National Council of Jewish Women | NA’AMAT USA | Hadassah Foundation | Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Women of Vision | Women of Reform Judaism | Jewish Federations of North America | Yesh Tikva | Jewish Women’s Aid | ADL Anti-Defamation League | AJMA, Columbia University | The Sophie Davis Forum on Gender and Conflict Resolution, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Rackman Center, Bar Ilan University | Kolech – Religious Women’s Forum | Murder Victims Families Organizations | Women and their bodies | Nivcharot, Charedi Women’s Movement | Emunah, National Religious Women Organization | Liga of Russian Speaking Feminists in Israel | Shorashim | Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey | Wepower for gender equality and equal representation | Women’s Spirit – Financial Independence for Women Victims of Violence Abuse | Hope Center | Beit Sagol | Achoti (Sister) for Women in Israel | ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal | Soy mujer independiente de Chile | Jyep | DemocraTech | Yozmot Atid | Hiddush – For Religious Freedom and Equality | Avoda Shava – Gender equality in workplaces | CAA Foundation | American Jewish Medical Association | Women and infants hospital of Rhode Island | Women’s Cancer and Wellness Institute | Forum Dvorah | | Uja | NA’AMAT- The women’s Movement of Israel | The Forum for Law gender and Policy | Miluimiyot | Eden association | Bonot Alternativa | Advocating for Change, female lawyers’ forum | Dvora Institute | Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago | Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago | Keshet | Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance | Task Force on Human Trafficking | Soroptimist International of Israel | Michal Sela Forum (MSF) | El HaLev | Women Wage Peace | Na’amat International | International Women’s Forum – Israel Chapter | Counseling Center for Women | NOGAFEM, Center for Women’s Health Innovation and Policy | Union of Consultants for Women’s Status Advancement in Israel | Union of Elected Women in Local Authorities in Israel | Council of Women’s Organizations in Israel | Ladaat Choose Well | ICJW – The International Council of Jewish Women | Coalition for Jewish Values | The Kiverstein Institute | Ameinu | Progressive Zionism | Supersonas | Mothers Against Violence | Her Academy: Vocational school for women coming out of prostitution | Center for Women’s Justice | Mavoi Satum | Shalom Hartman | Jewish Council for Public Affairs | Rabbinical Assembly| Friends of Sarah | Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) | Union for Reform Judaism | WiSpace – Association of Israeli Women in Space Institution | WIZO – Wizo – Women’s International Zionist`s Organization

You can see the original PDF letter here. 

***

About Women of Vision

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Women of Vision group was founded in 1994 to impact the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls across generations and geographic boundaries through strategic grantmaking, advocacy and educational programs leading to social change and social justice.  

In February 2024, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, separate from the Women of Vision Endowment Fund, Women of Vision made a special one-time grant of $30,000 to the Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children. This funding was allocated to support the Civil Commission’s work documenting the systematic and deliberate gender and sexual-based violence that Hamas committed and advocating for necessary changes on the international stage. 

In June of 2023, Women of Vision members voted to award grants to three organizations supporting women’s rights in Israel, investing $137,328 in programs that will affect change: Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI)’s “Improving Law Enforcement Systems for Victims” program, Yozmot Atid’s “Micro-Business Entrepreneurship” program, and ELI Israel Association for Child Protection’s “Protecting Haredi Young Women and Girls” program. For more information about Women of Vision, contact Director of Women of Vision and Campaign Pipeline Shara Swift at sswift@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0841.