News

On 12-13 June, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas is taking part in the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The Summit is co-chaired by the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and the Special Envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie.

It is the biggest event on this topic so far. The Summit is attended by 48 Foreign Ministers and brings together over 600 official representatives from 113 countries, including 100 non-governmental organizations and international partners.

Sexual violence and rape are still used as a weapon of war all around the world. These crimes destroy the lives of victims. Unfortunately, offenders often avoid responsibility for the abuse; all of this creates an atmosphere of impunity.

“It is only possible to effectively combat sexual violence in conflict if the countries take a comprehensive long-term action to ensure the prosecution of sexual violence crimes and to provide support to the victims of the offences. Lithuania, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, calls on all countries to combat sexual violence in conflict at the international, regional and national levels,” N.Germanas said.

The participating countries of the Summit in London are expected to agree on practical actions to reinforce the political principles expressed in the G8 Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict of April 2013 and A Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Lithuania was one of the first countries to join the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict that was launched in September 2013 during the United Nations General Assembly. The Summit will endorse an International Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, which is supported also by Lithuania.