ELIMINATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT: A Call for Deliberate Action and Protection of Victims

In a world plagued by ongoing conflict, sexual violence remains a weapon of war. Its impact goes far beyond physical harm, it shatters dignity, silences entire communities, and perpetuates cycles of trauma and fear.

On June 19th, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, merely acknowledging the date is not enough. We must confront this harsh reality with courage, clarity, and sustained action.

Sexual violence in contexts of war and forced displacement is not inevitable. It stems from failures in protection, systemic impunity, and the complicit silence of social structures. And because it is man-made, it can, and must, be dismantled by human-led solutions: inclusive public policies, strong justice systems, psychosocial support for survivors, and above all, prevention and the protection of at-risk groups.

In Angola, through the Refugee Emergency Response Project implemented in partnership with UNHCR at the Lóvua Settlement in Lunda Norte, World Vision has been working to strengthen community capacities to identify, report, and respond to protection risks, with special attention to women and children, those who too often bear the brunt of violence, whether as refugees or members of host communities.

Our intervention goes beyond immediate response. We support survivors while promoting safe spaces, community-based training, and the engagement of local leaders and youth in prevention efforts and in building a culture of protection.

Eliminating sexual violence in conflict is not just an ideal, it is a moral imperative.

With collective commitment, we can break the cycle of violence and build lasting pathways to protection, especially for women and children. Because every child deserves to grow up with dignity, safety, and the fullness of life.