From Colombia to Syria justice is possible for survivors of sexual violence in war – but we need the right ‘ecosystem’ | Clara Sandoval

For the first time Ukraine had the right conditions to make reparations to those subjected to crimes such as rape and sexual slavery. What would it take to replicate this globally?

Across the world, women and girls continue to be plagued by gross human rights violations. One that is specifically targeted at them is conflict-related sexual violence. Living in conflict, for so many people, means the possibility of being subjected to life-altering crimes such as sexual torture, rape and slavery.

Now, survivors of wartime sexual violations in Ukraine are to receive reparation payments. It is a landmark case - the fastest that a country at war has created a system to fulfil the right to reparation. Why has this right not been enacted in a timely manner globally?