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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
News article21 September 2022Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

UNGA: Commissioner Lenarčič co-hosts a high-level event on ensuring accountability for sexual violence in conflicts

Commissioner Lenarčič next to a European flag
© European Union, 2022 (photographer: Elvis Barukcic)

Commissioner Lenarčič will co-host and deliver opening remarks at the EU high-level event organised on 21 September 2022 in the margins of the UN General Assembly ministerial week on the issue of ensuring accountability for sexual violence and other violations of international humanitarian law (IHL).

The European Union is co-hosting this event with Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo against the background of serious violations of international humanitarian law being on the rise during conflicts around the world, whether in Africa, Asia, Latin America and, recently, Europe.

In the framework of protecting civilians from IHL violations, special attention should be placed on preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.

The high-level event aims at drawing attention to actions needed to step up the work to prevent, mitigate and respond to conflict-related sexual violence from a financial, legal and practical perspective to ensure access to services as well as justice for survivors and accountability for the perpetrators.