The Duchess of Edinburgh addresses, via video message, the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference, Ukraine

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has addressed the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference, Ukraine, via video message, to demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war and in a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

The Duchess’s message was played this morning at the conference hosted by the Government of Ukraine and attended by the First Lady of Ukraine, Mrs Zelenska. Addressing an audience of international delegates, NGOs and survivors, Her Royal Highness spoke about the importance of a survivor-centred international approach to eliminating conflict-related sexual violence and ensuring justice and accountability. 

In her speech, The Duchess said:

“The scale of the challenge that conflict related sexual violence presents around the world, from Myanmar to Ethiopia, from Colombia to Sudan, the current crisis in the Middle East to Ukraine, both from past and present conflicts, is enormous. Sadly, the landscape seems to be getting worse." 

As we gather here today, thousands of women, men, boys and girls are being subjected to sexual violence in order to demean, over-power and destroy. In Ukraine, female and male survivors have bravely recounted their experiences of the most appalling atrocities they have endured, since the start of the war in 2022. This conference is an important opportunity to ensure that those survivors are not forgotten, to shine a spotlight on their bravery and the need to ensure justice and accountability are upheld.

“Survivors here and around the world have spoken out so bravely about their experiences. They are the most powerful advocates who remind us all that we must not turn our backs on the horrors of this crime, we must never forget the survivors. Rather, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict. Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.”

Read Her Royal Highness's speech in full.

The Duchess of Edinburgh addressed the conference at the invitation of the First Lady of Ukraine, Mrs Zelenska and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The Duchess announced her commitment to champion the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda on International Women’s Day in 2019. Her Royal Highness has visited a number of countries over the years to highlight the impact of historical and ongoing conflict, including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia, and has heard first-hand testimonies from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.