On 25 June 2026, the European Union issued a statement at the OSCE Permanent Council condemning the worsening global crisis of conflict-related sexual violence and calling for stronger accountability and support for survivors. The statement, delivered on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, highlights that verified cases have more than doubled to nearly 10,000, with Russian armed and security forces listed among parties credibly suspected of committing such violence in Ukraine.
The EU statement draws on the UN Secretary-General's annual report, which documents a rise in sexual violence against both women and men, particularly in detention settings. It aligns with evidence from the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, ODIHR interim reports, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The EU strongly condemns all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and reiterates its commitment to ending impunity for international crimes.
The statement calls on participating States to conduct effective investigations, bring perpetrators to justice, and provide survivors with access to justice and reparations. It also underlines the need to strengthen implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, welcoming the OSCE-wide Roadmap on WPS launched last year. The EU urges the international community to redouble efforts to eliminate all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, emphasizing that prevention is a moral imperative and a legal obligation.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, and Ukraine aligned themselves with the statement.