Taking its forced birtherism to the extreme, the Trump administration is threatening to veto a resolution in the United Nations to combat the use of rape as a weapon of war. A senior UN official and European diplomats tell the Guardian that the draft resolution has already been greatly watered down, thanks to opposition from the U.S., and Trump's buddies in Russia and China.
The German delegation hoped that the resolution would be adopted Tuesday in a special security council session on sexual violence in conflict, but the veto threat could delay it. "We are not even sure whether we are having the resolution tomorrow, because of the threats of a veto from the U.S.," Pramila Patten, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, told the Guardian on Monday. Trump administration opposition could also "threaten to use their veto over this agreed language on comprehensive healthcare services including sexual and reproductive health.[…] It will be a huge contradiction that you are talking about a survivor-centered approach and you do not have language on sexual and reproductive healthcare services, which is for me the most critical."
The administration isn't just opposing the current resolution, it's essentially demanding that it be removed from the previous resolution from 2013 because of its language on sexual violence. A failed resolution now would mean that that resolution should stand, but the U.S. is insisting that it won't accept that language either, threatening a stalemate.
What the Trump team is objecting to is a clause that "urges United Nations entities and donors to provide non-discriminatory and comprehensive health services, including sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial, legal and livelihood support and other multi-sectoral services for survivors of sexual violence, taking into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities." Since abortion is a reproductive health service, the Trump zealots want it out. Forcing women to carry the results of their rape, of their captivity, of the violence of war will only make rape as a weapon of war more effective.
A European diplomat, who asked for anonymity from the Guardian, said of the conflict, "If we let the Americans do this and take out this language, it will be watered down for a long time. […] Until the Trump administration, we could always count on the Americans to help us defend it. Now the Americans have switched camp," the diplomat added. "Now it's an unholy alliance of the US, the Russians, the Holy See, the Saudis and the Bahrainis, chipping away at the progress that has been made."