Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has emphasized the importance of prioritizing the rights and voices of survivors of sexual violence in conflict, calling for concerted efforts to eradicate this

heinous crime.

In a video address to the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference in Ukraine, Sophie urged for solidarity with survivors to ensure justice and comprehensive redress, emphasizing the need to reject the normalization of sexual violence in conflict situations. She underscored the imperative of centering survivors' rights and voices in all initiatives aimed at combatting conflict-related sexual violence.

Invited to speak at the conference by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Sophie highlighted the global scale of the challenge posed by conflict-related sexual violence, spanning regions from Myanmar to Ethiopia, and from Colombia to Sudan. She lamented the worsening landscape and stressed the urgency of addressing the plight of countless women, men, boys, and girls subjected to sexual violence as a means of degradation, domination, and destruction.

Expressing solidarity with survivors in Ukraine, Sophie commended their courage in sharing their harrowing experiences amid the ongoing conflict. She affirmed the significance of the conference in ensuring that survivors receive acknowledgment and support, and in advocating for justice and accountability.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has dedicated several years to championing the cause of survivors and advocating for an end to sexual violence in conflict. Photo by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Wikimedia commons.