International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

On 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on 19 June 2008 of Security Council resolution, in which the Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.

2019 marks the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Over the past decade, there has been a paradigm shift in the understanding of the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence as a threat to international peace and security. In addition, it remains essential to recognize and tackle gender inequality as the root cause and driver of sexual violence, in times of war and peace. The response required to address such crimes includes the multidimensional services for survivors.

Original source: United Nations
Published on 19 June 2019