International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict Date in the current year: June 19, 2024

The term “conflict-related sexual violence” doesn’t only refer to rape but to forced prostitution, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced sterilization and any other form of sexual violence perpetrated against people of any age and gender that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict.

It is almost impossible to collect reliable statistics on conflict-related sexual violence because the vast majority of survivors of such violence are afraid to come forward to report it due to cultural stigma. According to practitioners in the field, there are 10 to 20 undocumented rapes for each one that is reported.

The main goal of International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is to raise awareness of the need to put an end to such violence once and for all. The Day also pays tribute to all those who have devoted their lives to the eradication of these crimes or even lost their lives in this struggle.

The date of June 19 was chosen because on this day in 2008 the United Nations Security Council adopted the resolution in which sexual violence was condemned as a tactic of war and an impediment to building peace. On the occasion of the day, relevant events and activities are organized around the world. You can follow the conversation on social media #EndRapeinWar.