The list already includes the military in Myanmar, the army in Sudan and the terrorist-stamped Palestinian Hamas. There is a risk that Russia and Israel will be added in the UN's next report.
The UN sees a pattern of sexual violence used by Israel's army and its security forces, as well as by Russian armed forces and groups affiliated with them.
Most of the abuses have been reported to have taken place in connection with deprivation of liberty.
Violence against genitalia
In Israel's case, it concerns "credible information" about how the military and security forces have shown a pattern of abuse such as "violence against genitalia, prolonged enforced nudity and repeated strip searches carried out as abuse and humiliation".
In February, the Israeli army stated that five soldiers had been charged with abuse against a Palestinian prisoner. Among other things, they are accused of having penetrated the man with a sharp object.
According to the UN report, there is credible evidence from Ukrainian prisoners of war of sexual abuse in 50 official and 22 unofficial prisoner camps in Russia and Ukraine. It involves electric shocks and blows to the genitalia, as well as enforced undressing and nudity with the aim of humiliating and forcing confessions and information.
In 2024, 209 cases of war-related sexual abuse were reported from Ukraine, including rapes.
Denies the abuses
Israel, which has cooperated on the investigation but refused the UN inspectors access, rejects the report's conclusions.
The UN must focus on the shocking war crimes and sexual violence committed by Hamas, and on getting the hostages released, says Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon.
Russia has not cooperated in the investigation and has not commented on the report.
