End sexual violence in war and conflict—once and for all

The testimonies from Bucha in Ukraine are horrifying. In addition to torture and executions, there are also reports of serious sexual abuse, assaults and rapes.

The fact that people are now in this situation is completely unacceptable and a tragic proof that decades of work to prevent and end sexual violence against women in war and conflict have not been enough—not by far.

The risk of being punished for serious sexual abuse during war and conflict has so far been negligible, in spite of the fact that it is now a war crime. These cases have rarely or never been prioritised in war crimes tribunals. The international community’s inability—or unwillingness—to deal with these crimes must end.

The war in Ukraine cannot become another war in which perpetrators remain unpunished. Ending impunity for sexual violence is of utmost importance for women and girls who have been subjected to sexual violence.

All rapes and sexual assaults in war and conflict must be investigated and documented. Girls, women and marginalised groups must always be given priority. Their vulnerability must be on the agenda from the start—the risk of sexual violence must be raised in all conversations concerning an armed conflict.

Sexual abuses in war and conflict are not inevitable. That is why prevention work is so important. Historically, and still to this day, it is primarily women and women’s rights organisations that have fought to put these issues on the agenda. Therefore, women human right defenders and women’s rights organisations must be listened to and, above all, their work must receive support and resources.

The international community must make sure to establish close cooperation with the women’s rights organisations that remain in war-torn Ukraine and ensure that they have the capacity to carry out their work. Survivors of rape and sexual abuse urgently need proper medical and phycological support, including access to abortion and contraception.

Local organisations and women human rights defenders have a particularly valuable role to play in this work. They already have the trust of women, who feel that they can seek help and process traumatic experiences, and they also have a unique competence in working with a do-no-harm approach. This is of utmost importance in not causing further traumatisation for survivors.

The international community—the EU, the OSCE and the Swedish government with its feminist foreign policy—must all act forcefully in order to, once and for all, prevent and end sexual violence and abuses in war and conflict.

—Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary-General