Proclamation of June 19th as International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 61/143 of 19 December 2006, 62/133 of 18 December 2007, 63/155 of 18 December 2008, 64/137 of 18 December 2009, 65/187 of 21 December 2010, 67/144 of 20 December 2012 and 69/147 of 18 December 2014, and all its previous resolutions on the elimination of violence against women, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, 1820 (2008) of 19 June 2008, 1888 (2009) of 30 September 2009, 1889 (2009) of 5 October 2009, 1960 (2010) of 16 December 2010, 2106 (2013) of 24 June 2013 and 2122 (2013) of 18 October 2013 on women and peace and security and all relevant Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, including resolutions 1882 (2009) of 4 August 2009, 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011, 2068 (2012) of 19 September 2012 and 2143 (2014) of 7 March 2014, Noting that civilians account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict, that women and girls are particularly targeted by the use of sexual violence, inter alia by terrorist and extremist groups, including as a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic or religious group, and that sexual violence perpetrated in this manner may in some instances persist after the cessation of hostilities, and recognizing that men and boys are also victims of sexual violence in conflict, 

Condemning in the strongest terms all sexual and other forms of violence committed against civilians in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, inter alia, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity, Recognizing the importance of providing timely assistance and increasing access to health care and other multi-sectoral services for survivors of sexual violence and of promoting their rehabilitation and non-stigmatization, 

Emphasizing the importance of effective accountability with regard to all forms of sexual violence and of strengthening efforts to put an end to the impunity of the perpetrators of such crimes by holding these perpetrators accountable under national justice systems or, where applicable, international justice,

Underlining the detrimental impact of sexual violence in armed conflict on women’s participation in the resolution of conflict and in the post-conflict transition, reconstruction and peacebuilding processes, and recognizing that effective steps to prevent and respond to such acts of sexual violence can significantly contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, 

Recognizing that Member States bear the primary responsibility to respect and ensure the human rights of all persons within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction as provided for by international law, Recalling its resolution 62/214 of 21 December 2007 on the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel and section IV of resolution 66/264 of 21 June 2012, on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, reaffirming the need for full implementation of the United Nations policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and recognizing the role of United Nations peacekeeping contingents in preventing sexual violence, Recognizing the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and for Children and Armed Conflict to eliminate all forms of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as the role of United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict in facilitating the coordinated responses of relevant actors, and the role of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in supporting Member States in addressing sexual violence crimes, Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, particularly paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed criteria for their proclamation, as well as paragraphs 13 and 14, which state that an international day or year should not be proclaimed before the basic arrangements for its organization and financing have been made, 

 1. Decides to proclaim 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict;

 2. Invites all Member and observer States, all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes; 

 3. Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution shall be met from voluntary contributions;

 4. Invites the Secretary-General, mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, to facilitate the implementation of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict and to keep the General Assembly informed on an annual basis concerning its observance;

 5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member and observer States and the organizations of the United Nations system. 

96th plenary meeting 19 June 2015.

United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day (A/RES/69/293)