Advocacy Letters to End Sexual Violence in Conflict FAQs
There is a long-standing prohibition of sexual violence in armed conflict. Sexual violence is one of the
most serious violations of an individual’s human rights. It is a war crime and a crime against
humanity, yet it is still a problem. These crimes are under investigated and under prosecuted, and
many victims do not receive the care they need and deserve.
The 3 letters in this Advocacy Focus apply to 3 different groups of countries:
1. Countries that have not signed the UN Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in
Conflict and do not have National Action Plans. (See here.)
2. Countries that have signed the UN Declaration but do not have National Action Plans.
(See here.)
3. Countries that have signed the UN Declaration and have National Action Plans. (See here.)
To find out what stage of action your country is at, please see this list, also available through the
online Advocacy Focus. All the advocacy letters are available there too.
By sending the appropriate letter for your country, you are advocating for governments and
institutions to implement practical actions to help end sexual violence committed in times of conflict
(SVC). These actions you are asking for are explained below:
The UN Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict:
Agreeing to the principles and content:
This requests that governments agree to demonstrate a commitment to end SVC. The Declaration’s
principles are already outlined in UN Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security, Children and
Armed Conflict, and Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. By signing the Declaration,
governments agree that it is unacceptable for resources, apathy, or lack of services to be a barrier to
achieving the end of sexual violence in conflict.
Providing time, better, and comprehensive assistance for those who experience SVC:
By agreeing to this ask, governments are acknowledging that although women are the majority of
the direct victims of SVC, men, children, families and communities are also victims. This care should
include medical and psychosocial care.
Holding those who Commit SVC Legally Accountable:
By agreeing to this ask, governments should challenge the impunity that exists around SVC, at the
national, regional and international level. This will only be possible, if done alongside the other
requests contained in the letter.
Assisting Conflict-Affected states and regions:
Although lack of resources should never be an excuse for not investigating and prosecuting SVC, in
reality some countries face bigger challenges than others in allocating resources to end sexual
violence in conflict. By signing the UN Declaration, governments agree to assist conflict-affected
states and regions. This can include helping to create of National and Regional Action Plans.
National Action Plans:
National Action Plans (NAPs) are able to coordinate the work done to help victims who experience
SVC. The UN Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and UN Security
Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security provide information on what NAPs should cover.
Currently 46 countries have already created NAPs. (To see if a country has a NAP please see this list.)
Japan, Argentina, South Sudan and Jordan are currently developing their action plans.
NAPs are a good way to solve the problems outlined above. NAPs were first proposed by the UN
Security Council in 2004 upon observing the slow implementation of UN Security Resolution 1325 on
Women, Peace and Security. Resolution 1325 calls for the following:
• Increased participation and representation of women at all levels of decision-making
• Attention to specific protection needs of women and girls in conflict.
• Gender perspective in post-conflict processes.
• Gender perspective in UN programming, reporting and in Security Council missions.
• Gender perspective and training in UN peace support operations.
It is very important that countries are lobbied to make sure their NAPs are constructed to the
highest international standards, supporting Regional Action Plans and the International Protocol on
the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
The International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict:
This Protocol gives practical guidelines for investigating and prosecuting SVC, and providing care to
all those who experience the harms of these crimes. There is a strong link between the UN
Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict and the International Protocol.
Signatories of the Declaration should also agree to the content of the Protocol and enact it in a NAP.
Regional Action Plans:
Regional Action Plans (RAPs) are similar to NAPs but apply across all countries in a region. RAPs help
facilitate inter-state support and cooperation. This is most important in less-developed regions,
where SVC is more common. There are currently 7 Regional Action Plans. They are:
• The African Union
• The Sothern African Development Community
• The European Union
• The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
• NATO (North American Treaty Organisation) and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
• Organisation for Security and Cooperation within Europe
• Pacific Regional Action Plan.
By sharing resources between countries, it is more likely that sexual violence in conflict will end.
Thank you for participating with this global call to advocacy. By signing and sending the relevant
letter contained in this Advocacy Focus you will become part of the global movement to bring an
end to sexual violence in conflict. As explained in the Advocacy Focus available online through the
Soroptimist International website, this is a critical issue that affects too many countries and too
many people across the world.
The asks and requirements contained both within the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual
Violence in Conflict and in the letter that you send must happen for sexual violence in conflict to
end. If you would like to become more involved in this global movement, information on different
events and campaigns are contained in the online Advocacy Focus on Sexual Violence in Conflict. You
can use that information to inspire your own SI events to help mobilise people in your own
community and beyond! Now is the time to act.