Joint statement by UN Women and women-led CRSV survivors’ networks, SEMA Ukraine and Numo Sestry, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2025

On this solemn day and amidst Russia’s full-scale of war, we highlight one of the most egregious war crimes: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). UN Women Ukraine and its close partners, the CRSV survivors’ networks SEMA Ukraine and Numo Sestry, strongly condemn the Russian Federation’s continued use of conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic of war, including as a method of torture, against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.  

Between February 2022 - December 2024, the United Nations in Ukraine has documented 433 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, perpetrated against 302 men, 119 women, 10 girls and 2 boys, including rape, mutilation or violence to genitals, forced nudity, threats and attempted rape.

CRSV has not only severely affected survivors, but also their families and their communities, causing lasting harm. This must stop! No one’s body should become an extension to the battlefield. The use of sexual violence as a tactic of war is a war crime and perpetrators must be held   accountable. 

In the face of these horrific crimes, we stress the importance of adopting a survivor-centered approach to all CRSV response efforts, which is only possible when ensuring the meaningful participation and leadership of survivors at every step. This is why UN Women, SEMA Ukraine and Numo Sestry have established a strong partnership to jointly support survivors and their families in their post-traumatic growth journey, and advocate at all levels for justice and accountability, especially through effective mechanisms to ensure the restoration of their rights. 

UN Women, SEMA Ukraine and Numo Sestry call for the immediate halt to using sexual violence as a tactic of war. We reiterate our commitment to working together towards achieving justice for survivors, their families and communities. As we mark the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda this year, we stand ready to support comprehensive peace initiatives that ensure survivors’ and women’s meaningful participation and leadership, and that fully address the needs and experiences of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

We stand in solidarity with survivors and call for justice, accountability, and the end of sexual violence in conflict.