UN called on to recognize Oct. 7 sexual violence report, reject double standard

Key Points:

• Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy presented the Civil Commission’s report, "Silenced No More," detailing Hamas’s sexual crimes during the October 7 massacre and hostage captivity at the UN Human Rights Council’s Annual Discussion on Women’s Rights in Geneva.
• The report identifies 13 patterns of abuse, including rape, sexual torture, and deliberate mutilation, coining the term "kinocidal sexual violence" to describe the deliberate use of sexual violence to inflict maximum pain on families.
• Elkayam-Levy condemned the global denial and silence surrounding these crimes, warning that ignoring the findings endangers future generations as terrorist groups may emulate Hamas’s brutality.
• The report calls on the UN to recognize the findings and apply compassion equally to Israeli victims, addressing concerns about a double standard in the treatment of sexual violence victims.
• UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer criticized the UN for failing to protect Israeli victims, urging the organization to uphold consistent standards of compassion and accountability for all victims of sexual violence.