New york: On the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their partnership to address sexual violence against children, which is often used as a tactic of war, repression, and terror. The two organizations issued a joint statement condemning such violence and called for urgent, collective action to end these human rights violations that no child should endure.
According to Emirates News Agency, the joint statement was made by UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren. They highlighted that children worldwide continue to face rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, trafficking, and other forms of sexual violence by both State and non-State actors. Such crimes inflict severe physical, psychological, and social harm, disrupt education, and leave enduring scars across generations. The statement emphasized that stigma and fear often prevent survivors from speaking out, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity.
The UN and EU stressed the need for a comprehensive, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed approach to prevent and respond to these crimes. This involves strengthening child protection systems, ensuring access to justice, providing reparations, and holding perpetrators accountable while safeguarding survivors from re-traumatization. The organizations are collaborating on a joint project to enhance global information sharing and capacity building, equipping UN entities, governments, and civil society with the necessary tools to systematically address conflict-related sexual violence.
The partnership between the UN and the EU aims to support national authorities, civil society, and frontline responders in raising awareness, delivering services, strengthening legal frameworks, and advancing accountability. The statement concluded with a call to UN Member States, conflict parties, and the international community to uphold their international law obligations, including child rights and protection from sexual violence. It urged commitments to translate into concrete action, adequate funding, and sustained political will to ensure no child experiences the pain and humiliation of such violence.