Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Emergencies

In her address to the IIEA, for the fifth lecture of the 2022 Development Matters series, supported by Irish Aid, Ms Åsa Regnér, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women discussed conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in areas experiencing humanitarian crises and conflict. The term “conflict-related sexual violence” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilisation, 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 to a conflict. Ms Regner highlighted ways CRSV can be prevented, responded to, and addressed in existing humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, DRC, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria.

About the Speaker:

Ms. Åsa Regnér has been Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women since May 2018. Prior to this, Ms. Regnér served as Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality of Sweden. She has extensive experience in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment, having held various leadership positions in government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the United Nations. She has led important processes and campaigns as a leading advocate for feminism and gender equality in Sweden and beyond.