World Observes International Day to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on June 19
June 19, 2025Today, the international community comes together to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, reaffirming its collective commitment to ending one of the most devastating and deeply rooted crimes committed during times of war.
Marked annually on 19th June, the day serves as a stark reminder of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war — a tool of terror that destroys lives, inflicts deep psychological trauma, and leaves long-lasting scars on individuals, families, and entire communities.
The United Nations, in its 2025 message, described conflict-related sexual violence as a “grotesque tactic of war” deliberately used to torture, humiliate, and silence. It is not only a violation of human dignity but also a strategic weapon aimed at destabilizing societies and inflicting intergenerational harm.
Theme for 2025: Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Trauma
This year’s observance focuses on the enduring and inherited trauma of conflict-related sexual violence, highlighting how the pain does not end with the victim — it often stretches across lifetimes, passing down emotional wounds to the children and grandchildren of survivors.
The United Nations emphasized the urgent need to acknowledge, address, and heal these intergenerational wounds through justice, accountability, and comprehensive survivor support.
“To break the cycle, we must confront the horrors of the past, support the survivors of today, and protect the future from suffering the same fate,” the UN statement read.
Global Call to Action: Justice, Support, and Prevention
On this solemn day, world leaders, rights organizations, survivors, and activists are uniting in calls for:
- Justice for survivors and prosecution of perpetrators through national and international courts.
- Access to survivor-centered, trauma-informed care and services, including medical, psychological, and legal support.
- Amplifying survivor voices, ensuring they are heard, respected, and empowered to shape the policies that affect them.
The United Nations stressed that impunity must end, and the global community must ensure that no survivor is silenced by shame, nor any perpetrator shielded by power.
A United Stand Against a Global Crime
As events and awareness campaigns are held worldwide to mark the day, the message remains clear: Conflict-related sexual violence is not inevitable — it is preventable.
Observers emphasized that sustained efforts, political will, and survivor leadership are key to building a world where violence no longer defines the experience of conflict for women, girls, and vulnerable populations.
“We must come together — across governments, institutions, and civil society — to ensure that these heinous crimes are met with justice, not silence,” the UN urged.
The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict was established by the United Nations in 2015. It commemorates the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1820 (2008), which recognized sexual violence as a tactic of war and a matter of international peace and security.
