June 19 is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
This date was established by the UN in 2015 to remind the world every year that sexual violence is a crime and that victims have the right to comprehensive support and protection.
Ukraine has been at war for eleven years now, and throughout this time, Russian occupiers have been using sexual violence as a weapon. Women, men, and children have become victims. The Russians’ goal is to break the will, sow fear, and force Ukrainians to give up their resistance.
Silence plays into the hands of criminals. Only publicity and public support can help achieve justice and prevent a recurrence. That is why it is extremely important to know how to act, where to turn, and how to support survivors.