G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting: New Foreign Policies That Will Reduce Cases of Sexual Violence In Conflict

Following the recent G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on 5th May 2021, new announcements on foreign and security policies for G7 states have been made including new policies to solve the worst cases of sexual violence and human rights violations in conflict situations around the world.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hosts the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in London 3 to 5 May 2021.

Below are the new foreign policies put in place to tackle the shocking cases of sexual violence towards women and girls occurring in Afghanistan and Ethiopia. In Afghanistan, terror attacks and targeted assaults on women have increased in the last six months, while in Ethiopia the use of rape and sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war by the Ethiopian forces on the women in Tigray as the conflict between the Ethiopian government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front continues. These are taken directly from the Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué.

Preamble:

‘We, the Foreign and Development Ministers of the Group of Seven (G7), and the High Representative of the European Union, are meeting today at a critical juncture for our people, our planet, our security and our future prosperity.’

‘We commit to tackling threats jointly and committing our resources to achieve shared security. We will promote respect for, and protect, human rights for all individuals, regardless of where they live and whatever their identity, faith, gender, disability or race. We commit to working with the international community to further advance gender equality; and reaffirm the importance of focusing on educating girls, empowering women, and ending violence against women and girls.’

Afghanistan

‘A sustainable, inclusive political settlement is the only way to achieve a just and durable peace that benefits all Afghans. We support the continuation of the peace negotiations in Doha and efforts to convene a high-level conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul.’

‘We continue to advocate for the meaningful participation and inclusion of the voices of women, young people and those from minority groups in all discussions regarding Afghanistan’s future.’

‘We will work to protect the rights that all Afghans, including women, young people and minority groups have fought for and come to enjoy and value. We support the desire of Afghans to live in peace and prosperity, building on the positive economic, social and political achievements of the last 20 years. G7 members commit to using international development assistance, advocacy and diplomacy to support the people of Afghanistan’s aspirations.’

‘We call for an immediate end to attacks on civilians, including the targeted campaign of killings against women, journalists, and human rights activists, for which the Taliban are primarily responsible.’

Ethiopia

‘We recall our statement of 2 April 2021 about the situation in Tigray, and remain deeply concerned about the continued violence and the worsening humanitarian and human rights crises. We condemn the killing of civilians, rape and sexual exploitation, and other forms of gender-based violence.’

‘We welcome the agreement between the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate human rights violations and abuses. We call on all parties to cease hostilities immediately, ensure the protection of civilians and respect human rights and international law as well as media freedom and access, and hold those responsible for human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence, accountable. We urge parties to the conflict to provide immediate, unhindered humanitarian access, given the worsening food insecurity.’

G7-Africa Partnership

‘We reaffirm our determination to strengthen partnerships with African countries, regional organisations and the African Union, building on the progress made under recent Presidencies. We will work with them to boost prosperity, economic inclusion, and stability for all. In that context we particularly welcome the ratification of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, and commend the bravery of African peacekeepers across the continent.

‘Our commitments on global health security and systems, strengthening open societies, gender equality, girls’ education, support for adaptation to climate change, and famine prevention will have tangible impact on the continent. We will look for opportunities to work closely with our African partners on shared challenges throughout our Presidency year.’

 

Click here to read the full policy paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/g7-foreign-and-development-ministers-meeting-may-2021-communique/g7-foreign-and-development-ministers-meeting-communique-london-5-may-2021#ii--foreign-and-security-policy