On 30 October 2019, the United Nations held a Commemorative event for the 10-Year Anniversary of the Mandate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, co-hosted by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Republic of South Africa. You can view the event online here. The mandate was established in 2009 with the 'purpose of preventing and addressing the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence.' Since its establishment, the mandate has galvanized the international community around issues of wartime rape and the stigmatization faced by survivors.
Firsthand experiences from survivors of sexual violence in conflict were shared and a collective stance to end impunity was taken by all speakers and panelists, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Under Secretary-General, Ms. Pramila Pattern. The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Ms. Nadia Murad and Dr. Denis Mukwege launched the Global Fund for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, that will "establish a direct way for survivors to have access to reparations...and will change individuals, families and communities all around the world" (Mukwege) as they continue to fight for justice.
Ecumenical Women at the UN commend the collective efforts of all those working to fight Gender-Based Violence, including sexual violence in conflict, and continue to take a stand against all forms of Gender-Based Violence. #ThursdaysInBlack