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Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Part of UK in Turkey

17th April 2013

Helping prevent sexual violence

G8 Foreign Ministers came together in London last week to discuss conflict resolution and the prevention of sexual violence.

With the current turmoil on its south eastern border, Turkey needs no reminding of the suffering conflict can cause. William Hague has described Syria as potentially the “worst humanitarian catastrophe” of the 21st century. Last weekend’s attacks in Mogadishu were a terrible reminder of the risks Kızılay and others take in helping to alleviate suffering and build stability in fragile states.

The Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie arrived at Rowanda on their visit for the Preventing sexual violence initiative and wider political messages.
The Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie arrived at Rowanda on their visit for the Preventing sexual violence initiative and wider political messages.

Conflicts often cause most harm to the most vulnerable. That is why in May 2012 British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI).

The use of rape as a weapon of war is devastating to individuals and communities. The United Nations estimate that in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone as many as 500,000 women have been raped since 1996. In Somalia, more than 1700 rapes were registered in Mogadishu alone between January and November 2012. Yet only a tiny fraction of cases end up in court.

Last week the UK, supported by celebrity Angelina Jolie, secured G8 support for a robust new approach to tackling this devastating aspect of conflict.

Members of the G8 agreed a major declaration recognising that rape and sexual violence are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. The G8 countries agreed to launch an international protocol which will set out standards for investigating and documenting sexual violence.

The aim is to increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice and to deter future crimes. Pledges worth £23 million will support the initiative.

The UK hopes to use G8 support to help build a strong international coalition against rape and sexual violence in conflict at the UN and more widely. The UK looks forward to working with the Turkish Government to bring the perpetrators of such dreadful crimes to justice.

1 comment on “Helping prevent sexual violence”

  1. My heartfelt thanks go to the men and women who stepped up to work shoulder-to-shoulder with people to deliver an effective, seamless and well-regarded to support positive developments on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights through the UN, on Human Rights and Democracy Programme, and on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). Wishing you all the best forever.

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About Leigh Turner

I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of…

I hope you find this blog interesting and, where appropriate, entertaining. My role in Vienna covers the relationship between Austria and the UK as well as the diverse work of the UN and other organisations; stories here will reflect that.

About me: I arrived in Vienna in August 2016 for my second posting in this wonderful city, having first served here in the mid-1980s. My previous job was as HM Consul-General and Director-General for Trade and Investment for Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus based in Istanbul.

Further back: I grew up in Nigeria, Exeter, Lesotho, Swaziland and Manchester before attending Cambridge University 1976-79. I worked in several government departments before joining the Foreign Office in 1983.

Keen to go to Africa and South America, I’ve had postings in Vienna (twice), Moscow, Bonn, Berlin, Kyiv and Istanbul, plus jobs in London ranging from the EU Budget to the British Overseas Territories.

2002-6 I was lucky enough to spend four years in Berlin running the house, looking after the children (born 1992 and 1994) and doing some writing and journalism.

To return to Vienna as ambassador is a privilege and a pleasure. I hope this blog reflects that.

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