<p>A Nobel peace prize winner joined several countries in calling on the United Nations Security Council Wednesday to increase sanctions against perpetrators of sexual violence in conflicts.</p>.<p>Reports of sexual violence have increased in many of the world's worst conflicts over the past year, from Ethiopia to Libya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Darfur.</p>.<p>"The climate of impunity remains the rule and not the exception," 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege told the Council's annual session on sexual violence in conflicts.</p>.<p>"As long as these despicable crimes are not punished, they will continue," added the Congolese gynecologist, calling on the Security Council to establish "a red line."</p>.<p>Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary-General's special emissary on sexual violence in conflicts, noted that this year's report lists 52 people and entities suspected of committing sexual violence.</p>.<p>"Over 70 per cent are persistent perpetrators, having appeared on the list for five or more years without taking remedial or corrective action," she said.</p>.<p>"It is critical to ensure greater coherence between the practise of listing and the practise of levying targeted and graduated measures by sanctions committees," the UN official added.</p>.<p>She said that "if applied in a timely and consistent manner, sanctions can change the calculus of parties that operate on the assumption that rape is 'cost-free,' or even profitable, in the political economy of war in which women are trafficked, traded and sold."</p>.<p>While several Security Council members spoke out against the use of sexual violence as a "weapon of war," only a few supported the idea of imposing more international sanctions on perpetrators.</p>.<p>Ireland, a non-permanent member, deemed sanctions an "under-utilized tool to deter and punish sexual violence in conflict."</p>.<p>"This Council has the means to act," said Irish ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason.</p>.<p>"We believe we need to examine our use of targeted sanctions -- specifically the designation criteria of conflict-related sexual violence and listing of sanctioned individuals," she added.</p>
<p>A Nobel peace prize winner joined several countries in calling on the United Nations Security Council Wednesday to increase sanctions against perpetrators of sexual violence in conflicts.</p>.<p>Reports of sexual violence have increased in many of the world's worst conflicts over the past year, from Ethiopia to Libya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Darfur.</p>.<p>"The climate of impunity remains the rule and not the exception," 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege told the Council's annual session on sexual violence in conflicts.</p>.<p>"As long as these despicable crimes are not punished, they will continue," added the Congolese gynecologist, calling on the Security Council to establish "a red line."</p>.<p>Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary-General's special emissary on sexual violence in conflicts, noted that this year's report lists 52 people and entities suspected of committing sexual violence.</p>.<p>"Over 70 per cent are persistent perpetrators, having appeared on the list for five or more years without taking remedial or corrective action," she said.</p>.<p>"It is critical to ensure greater coherence between the practise of listing and the practise of levying targeted and graduated measures by sanctions committees," the UN official added.</p>.<p>She said that "if applied in a timely and consistent manner, sanctions can change the calculus of parties that operate on the assumption that rape is 'cost-free,' or even profitable, in the political economy of war in which women are trafficked, traded and sold."</p>.<p>While several Security Council members spoke out against the use of sexual violence as a "weapon of war," only a few supported the idea of imposing more international sanctions on perpetrators.</p>.<p>Ireland, a non-permanent member, deemed sanctions an "under-utilized tool to deter and punish sexual violence in conflict."</p>.<p>"This Council has the means to act," said Irish ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason.</p>.<p>"We believe we need to examine our use of targeted sanctions -- specifically the designation criteria of conflict-related sexual violence and listing of sanctioned individuals," she added.</p>