Szijjarto: Wartime sexual violence must not be left unpunished

Hungary is committed to putting an end to the "unacceptable and scandalous" practice of leaving wartime sexual violence committed against women and girls unpunished, Hungary's foreign minister said on Friday. The Hungarian government will grant 12 million forints (EUR 36,800) to the International Red Cross and the United Nations' women rights organisations to help women and children who were exposed to sexual violence in conflict areas, Peter Szijjarto told an international conference in Oslo. Violence against helpless civilians, especially women and girls, is on the rise in international conflicts but it has practically no consequences, Szijjarto said. The perpetrators are scarcely called to account, which encourages them to repeat their crimes, he added.