Sheryl Sandberg, a long-time champion of women's and girls' rights, declared before the United Nations on Monday that rape should never be regarded as a war tactic.
"Silence is complicity," Sandberg asserted. "Given the terror, we can't remain silent. That's why we're gathered here today to discuss unspeakable acts."
The tech industry icon and co-founder of Lean In, now Meta's former COO, addressed the gathering at a United Nations event on December 17, 2019, in New York City, discussing the use of sexual violence as a weapon in Hamas's military strategy during their conflict with Israel.
Following Hamas's October 7 attack, Israeli authorities interrogate suspects and collect evidence, such as videos, forensic investigations, and witness testimonies, to investigate alleged rape incidents during the attack. Witnesses reported that women and girls were sexually assaulted, tortured, and even killed during the attacks.
In a recent CNN opinion piece, Sandberg urged the international community to put aside political differences and speak out against such atrocities.
"Too often, we've believed the stories of sexual violence survivors, but this time, many chose to ignore those tales that these women told of their final moments," Sandberg wrote.
"The silence over these war crimes is deafening," she added. "It's time to move beyond historical debates about the past and political debates about the future and condemn this."
Shelly Harush, Israel's police officer commanding sexual violence and crime investigations, shared in an interview with the Times of London on Sunday that it had become apparent that sexual crimes were a deliberate strategy used to intimidate and humiliate people.[1]
Harush explained that she had collected thousands of statements, photos, and video clips as evidence, including evidence of a girl's rape with a broken pelvis.[1]
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Sheryl Sandberg has become a prominent voice in addressing rape as a strategy in conflict zones, particularly in the context of the Hamas conflict in Israel. Recognizing the tragic turn of events on October 7, 2023, Sandberg has taken multiple progressive actions to bring attention to the atrocities committed by Hamas, including rape, assault, and mutilation.
One such project is "Screams Before Silence," a documentary she's heading, which highlights the plight of Hazem Alqaisi, a Chechen refugee, who was brutally gang-raped by Hamas militants during the violent conflict on October 7 [1]. Sandberg interviews key witnesses, medical experts, and victims to shed light on the importance of recognizing these crimes and addressing the complicity of international bodies.
Her tireless advocacy extends to criticizing the United Nations for its silence on the issue for more than 50 days following the attack, as well as urging the recognition of survivor accounts and justice for the victims of sexual violence [1].
Furthermore, Sandberg has backed efforts to include sexual violence charges as part of pending legal proceedings against Hamas terrorists. The Dinah Project 7/10, led by Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, has been instrumental in collecting and evaluating evidence to support these prosecutions [2].
In a powerful opinion piece for CNN, Sandberg highlighted the systemic use of rape as a weapon of war by Hamas and the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable, even if individual involvement cannot be proven [1]. These actions and powerful statements serve as a reminder of her commitment to championing the rights and safety of women and girls worldwide.
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