International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Ambassador to Colombia Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby supportes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The widespread use of rape and other forms of sexual violence in armed conflicts around the world is one of the greatest, most persistent and most neglected injustices. This is why in 2012 UK Foreign Secretary William Hague promoted the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), an initiative to promote awareness of the issue and encourage global efforts to address it. At the UN in September the UK, together with the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, launched the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
In Colombia, thousands of women, men and children have been affected by these crimes. We are delighted that Colombia has supported the declaration and that we are able to work together with the Colombian Government and Civil Society to fight impunity and provide attention and protection to survivors of sexual violence. We believe in the efforts of the government to fight this crime and provide justice for victims, and celebrate the fundamental role that civil society organization is playing in Colombia.
Today I am delighted to announce the start of a project with la Liga Internacional de Mujeres por la Paz y la Libertad (LIMPAL Colombia) and Casa Amazonía to build community approaches to support victims, and to reduce the risks of sexual violence that Afro-Colombian, indigenous and forcedly displaced women, adolescents and children face in three departments of Colombia. This project will support and complement the work that the state is already doing in those departments to promote and defend women’s rights.