Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced sterilization, forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys in direct or indirect relation to conflict define the term “conflict-related sexual violence. This term also includes trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual violence or exploitation when these situations occur in times of conflict.
It is estimated that for every reported case of conflict-related rape, there are 10 to 20 that remain hidden for a variety of reasons: fear, cultural pressures, and political and social context.
With this day, proclaimed in 2015, the United Nations wishes to raise awareness among all countries to put an end to these various forms of sexual violence in times of conflict, to show solidarity with the victims and to pay tribute to those who work on the ground to eliminate these crimes.
In this time of multiple conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, it is more important than ever to be aware of this deplorable situation and to support measures to counter it and to act in solidarity.
Watch the United Nations video : Video 1 | Video 2.