Home   Calendar   Holidays   UN Holidays   International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in...

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2025

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is a United Nations observance on June 19 to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence.

Sexual violence is considered a weapon.

©iStockphoto.com/airdone

The resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on June 19, 2015. The date marks the Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), where sexual violence as a tactic of war was condemned.

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

The UN defines conflict-related sexual violence as a term that "(...) refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked (temporally, geographically or causally) to a conflict".

Wartime Strategy

The day was created, not only to raise awareness but to honor survivors of sexual violence and to pay tribute to all those who have devoted and lost their lives around the world when standing up against these crimes.

"Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes. It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development," stated Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General.

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019WedJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2020FriJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2021SatJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2022SunJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2023MonJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2024WedJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2025ThuJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2026FriJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2027SatJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2028MonJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance
2029TueJun 19International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in ConflictUnited Nations observance

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.