What if we responded to sexual violence in conflict as an existential threat?

Introduction
19 June 2020 marks the 5th year since the United Nations General Assembly established (through resolution A/ RES/69/293) the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict to sustain support for ending sexual violence in conflict, and to honour millions of victims and survivors globally.

This year the focus is on Empowering Survivors of Sexual Violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, COVID-19 has heightened the challenges of survivors/victims of sexual violence. Recently dubbed the ‘shadow pandemic' due to the heightened challenges that survivors/victims grapple with amidst global lockdown, the need to eliminate sexual violence cannot be overstated.

On this day some people ponder as to why sexual violence in conflict continues to present its ugly face despite advances in science and technology. Such debates may hold some merits but they also limit understanding of the complex nature of, contexts, and impacts of sexual violence in conflict.

As a Civil Society Organisation that has for decades been working closely with survivors and victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), we pose a question we believe is worth asking; "What if we responded to sexual violence in conflict as an existential threat?" COVID-19 has proven that humans listen if they feel that their survival is threatened.

We believe it's worth reflecting on the progress garnered thus far in the fight against COVID-19, as a pandemic but also as an existential threat - lessons which could help in the struggle against sexual violence in conflict. There is no vaccine against sexual violence in conflict, and no investment to find one on anything like the scale of resources being pumped into finding vaccines against COVID-19.

Nonetheless, we can contribute to the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict as an existential threat in a number of ways; Promoting proactive means of evidence collection and tackling under-reporting: COVID-19 has shown how underreporting hinders the fight to flatten the curve of new infections.

Similarly, thousands of survivors or victims of sexual violence grapple in silence and that affects the national statistics - a situation we can avert through massive screening for experiences of warrelated harms, including sexual violence.

Our experience screening over 6,000 refugees and hosts to date shows that, given a safe environment in which to report, and making it worthwhile to report by ensuring that the reported needs are responded to, can generate strong evidence. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STATEMENT