Global Survivors Fund

Survivors in Ukraine deserve reparative justice now, not later.   Global Survivors Fund and REDRESS, alongside 48 Ukrainian and international civil society organisations, are making a clear demand. We call on U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken and Honorable Samatha Power to redirect frozen Russian assets towards urgent interim measures for Ukrainian survivors. Why act now?   🔹 To close urgent gaps - ensuring survivors receive the assistance they need, particularly those facing trauma, chronic injuries, economic hardship, and the destruction of their homes.   🔹 To respond directly to survivors’ demands - providing essential medical and financial support to restore dignity.   🔹 To build a foundation for lasting peace - prioritising funding for survivor-centred programmes.   Read more about our letter below 👇

"Despite their struggles, laughter still filled the room, a powerful reminder of their strength.” Back from recent validation workshops in the Central African Republic, Antoine Stomboli, Senior Project Officer & Reparations Advisor at the Global Survivors Fund, shares insights from grounding discussions with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. These workshops were essential in finalising the Global Reparations Study to ensure that survivors' needs guide recommendations. Read more on how these voices are shaping the future of reparations: https://lnkd.in/e8bFhPWP

15 years ago today, the UN took a critical step to fight conflict-related sexual violence with the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. But, did you know that 5 years ago, the Security Council backed the establishment of a fund to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence? Resolution 2467 laid the foundation for… our creation! Since then, we’ve been working globally, partnering with governments, organisations in various countries, and survivors themselves to show that reparation is possible. From rolling out interim reparative measures to influencing legislation, we’ve made significant progress, yes, but we know that unfortunately a lot remains to be done.   Conflict-related sexual violence is no longer viewed as an inevitable part of war, but a preventable atrocity. We remain committed to continue co-creating with survivors, listening to them and making sure many others also do.  #EndRapeInWar - Esther Dingemans

While sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon in almost every war - I ask myself: what drives us forward? 🤔 Last week, the 25th anniversary of the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims provided the answer. Civil society, survivors, and states came together to do extraordinary work, in raising awareness on a silenced aspect of the war and in supporting survivors. Kosovo’s state-led reparation programme offers hope. Yet, out of an estimated 20,000 survivors, only around ten percent have come forward due to lingering stigma. Keeping the application window open is crucial for those still suffering in silence. Amongst the many panels and speakers, two impactful stories particularly moved me. The first was Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman, the first survivor to speak out publicly in her country, activist and Presidential Special Envoy on sexual violence during war. The simple gesture of her siblings embracing her as she left the stage highlighted the importance of family support—a stark contrast to many who face silence alone. Then Vanessa, the daughter of Shyrete Tahiri-Sulimani, a survivor activist herself – courageously and confidently shared her account of her life marked by intergenerational trauma. She was only a child when she witnessed her mother’s abuse. And in that she was not alone - KRCT data show that a staggering that 73% of survivors were assaulted in front of loved ones. Vanessa is using her voice to encourage others to seek support. So, what helps us move forward? It’s simple: listening to survivors and working together. Thank you, KRCT, for the invitation and for being a leading example.

“I would like to see all survivors receive decent compensation and recognition.” That’s exactly what the law 'On the Status of Victims of Sexual Violence Related to the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine and Urgent Interim Reparations' aims to achieve. Since 2023, we’ve been collaborating with the Ukrainian government to draft this crucial legislation that recognises survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The law is now one step closer to adoption, currently under review by Parliament. Once passed, it will provide financial compensation and urgent psychological, medical, and financial support - without forcing survivors through the judicial system. This law is survivor-centred and will be a vital source of state recognition for those who have endured the horrors of conflict-related sexual violence.

"With more than one in four girls worldwide experiencing sexual violence before turning 18, the new data published by UNICEF last week speaks of a global emergency. These numbers should alarm us all and call for immediate action to not only prevent such violations but also to address their long-term impacts ", said Zoé Bertrand, GSF’s Senior Advocacy and Policy Officer.   “These numbers reveal the untenable reality of sexual violence faced by children, particularly adolescent girls. The stigma and trauma they endure often lasts a lifetime, manifesting in mental health struggles, social isolation, and dropping out of school. What’s particularly alarming is the silence that follows these abuses—too many children don’t feel safe to speak up.” In this context, reparation is not just a right; it is a necessity. Reparation acknowledges the harm suffered, offers a sense of justice, provides support, and empowers survivors and victims. While sexual violence dehumanises, reparation rehumanises.  We must collectively invest in reparation programmes that address both the immediate needs and the long-lasting consequences faced by children affected by sexual violence.   Discover UNICEF’s latest report at the link below 👇

Building upon fruitful exchanges with CEDAW (the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) earlier this year, REDRESS and GSF released their latest recommendations to the Committee. Through our work, we have identified key barriers preventing survivors from receiving the justice and reparation they deserve. These include insufficient political will, legal and institutional obstacles, stigma, and lack of resources to meet essential needs. Children affected by conflict-related sexual violence, particularly those born of rape, face additional challenges. This is where the CEDAW Committee can play a critical role and we call on the Committee to provide concrete guidance to States on how to guarantee survivors’ right to reparation, in particular by issuing a General Recommendation on reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Reparations should be survivor-centred, gender-sensitive and age-responsive. In addition, States are encouraged to establish mechanisms which allow survivors to participate meaningfully in reparation processes and also to explore diverse ways to finance reparations sustainably - including repurposing frozen assets and fines from sanctions breaches. We believe that CEDAW has the potential to further support survivors in obtaining the reparation they deserve. You can learn more about the recommendations down below 👇

Ever wondered what it really takes to co-create with survivors? 🤔 During our validation workshops in the Central African Republic, we shared the global reparation study with survivors ahead of its launch, ensuring the recommendations are still relevant to their needs. While some needs have evolved, others remain unchanged. Free psychological and medical care, for instance, continues to be a top priority across various regions. As one survivor expressed: "In the recommendations, we must emphasise the need for free medical care. It’s not right that we, as survivors, still have to find a way to pay just for a doctor’s consultation." These gatherings can sometimes become emotionally intense, with difficult discussions, reflections on the past, and uncertainty about the future. By incorporating meditation, exercises, and group activities, we also create a safe space for healing. These are crucial foundations for the next steps in our project within the country, with survivors leading the way. 

There is education, and there is education as a form of reparation. At This year’s UN International Conference on Victims of Terrorism, we were given the chance to talk about this tool of great untapped potential. Maya Shah, our Director of Operations, was there to emphasise just that: "A supportive school environment helps rebuild shattered self-esteem, offers a safe space for emotional recovery, and provides a sense of belonging—something survivors desperately need after being cut off from their communities by stigma and trauma." For survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, education is a top priority, whether it is for themselves or for their children. It comes across strongly in the discussions on the most adequate forms of reparations. Education, when tailored for survivors, does more than teach—it heals. This concept is central to our latest project with Neem Foundation in Nigeria, where a trauma-sensitive educational approach is adopted for 31 young girls now attending school, and to many other participants in the near future. Catch Maya’s full intervention starting at minute 00:21:00 👉 https://lnkd.in/gt8HWHpD

We're #hiring! We’ve extended the deadline on our call for proposals seeking a Mapping Consultant for Cox's Bazar to: ✅ Map and assess the opportunities in the camps of Cox’s Bazar for an interim reparative measures project for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence; ✅ Evaluate the feasibility of advocacy and technical support to the Bangladesh government, or other relevant stakeholders, in relation to reparations for survivors from Myanmar. Interested? All the details to submit your proposal are in the PDF below 👇