UK Government Must Launch Plan to Eradicate Sexual Violence in Conflict

World Vision is calling on the UK government to tackle the stigma of sexual violence that blights the lives of hundreds of thousands of children around the world. 

The call comes on the day that a House of Lords' Committee releases a new report on the government’s work to address sexual violence in conflict. The report stresses the devastating impact of sexual violence on children –but neglects to include the impact on generations of children born of wartime rape. 

The government must use its global political influence to stamp out sexual violence in war, and help survivors and communities recover. 

Erica Hall, World Vision UK's Senior Child Rights Adviser, says: “We’re calling for the government to launch an ambitious programme to stamp out sexual violence by all perpetrators around the world, including peacekeepers. Whitehall must pull together a five year plan and make this a priority for all the government departments involved. 

“Children born of rape can suffer a lifetime of stigma, shunned by their communities and even their own mothers as a constant reminder of violence or even genocide. The children themselves have to come to terms with the fact that half of their DNA belongs to war criminal –while facing perpetual blame for something they played no part in.”

World Vision works with survivors of sexual violence with specialist teams in a number of countries including eastern DRC and northern Uganda. The charity’s recent report ‘No Shame in Justice’ highlights the problems survivors face.