Every year since its inception, the United States has joined the global community in recognizing June 19 as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Despite global and national commitments to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, we recognize we must do more to bolster the rights and empowerment of survivors; promote survivors’ access to services and justice; and hold perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes.

The United States does not accept conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as an inevitable cost of armed conflict.  We remain committed to supporting survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches to helping survivors access the services needed to help them recover and secure the justice they deserve.

On this International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we send the following message to perpetrators of sexual violence: the world is watching, we stand unequivocally with survivors, and the international community will take real action to prevent and respond to CRSV, and all forms of gender-based violence, across the globe.

Original source can be found here.