Nations pledge effort to halt rape as weapon in conflict

UNITED NATIONS – Ministers and activists say nations must do more to end the use of rape as a weapon in conflicts, including Syria's civil war.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday at a sideline event at the United Nations that the international community must demolish the "notion that people who use rape as a weapon of war can get away with it."

"The culture of impunity that exists in some conflict zones is something that we have to shatter," he said.

Britain pledged $1.6 million to help fund efforts including new teams of specialists to deploy to conflict zones to assist rape victims and bolster work to prosecute offenders.

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide voiced concern over rape of both men and women in Syria's civil war.