United Nations CNN —A United Nations team has found “clear and convincing” information that hostages in Gaza were sexually abused, Pramila Patten, the UN special envoy on sexual violence in conflict told reporters on Monday.
There are “reasonable grounds” to believe the sexual violence is ongoing, she added.
The UN team, which was led by Patten, visited Israel between January 29 to February 14 for a mission “aimed at gathering, analyzing, and verifying information on conflict-related sexual violence” during October 7 and its aftermath, according to a 24-page report.
The mission was not able to meet with any victims of sexual violence on October 7 “despite our efforts,” Patten said.
But we received information that a handful of them were receiving very specialized trauma treatment and were not prepared to come forward,” she said.
Persons:
Pramila Patten, Patten, “, ” Patten, ”
Organizations:
United Nations CNN, United Nations, UN, Hamas
Locations:
Gaza, Israel, Al, Aqsa