Ukraine First Lady demands global response to sexual assault in war

LONDON - Ukraine First Lady Olena Zelenska on Monday demanded a "global response" to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, saying Kyiv prosecutors were investigating more than 100 possible crimes by Russian soldiers.

Speaking at the "Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative" conference in London, Zelenska said the investigations were "just a small" fraction of the true number of such crimes being committed in the Ukraine conflict.

"The opportunities for the occupiers widened to humiliating Ukrainians and unfortunately, sexual violence and sexual crimes are within their arsenal," she said.

"Everyone knows about the huge numbers of rapes," she told delegates on the first day of the UK government-hosted event.

"They're (Russian soldiers) very open about this."

But victims were afraid of speaking out over the stigma and fears that those responsible may return and do it again, Zelenska warned.

"That is why it's extremely important to recognise this as a war crime and to bring all the perpetrators to account," she said.

"There has to be a global response to this. Unfortunately, such war crimes will keep on going in the world as long as the servicemen think that they can go without any punishment."

The Ukrainian government has launched a support programme to help victims of the war, which Zelenska said she hoped could be a "first step towards an investigation and prosecution".

Ukraine was looking to set up similar initiatives outside the country, such as in Germany and the Czech Republic, she added.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly last week announced new aid for Ukraine on a visit to Kyiv, including support for victims of sexual violence by Russian soldiers.

The conference brings together representatives of about 70 countries to tackle the scourge of sexual violence in conflict.

It has heard from Nobel Peace Prize laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, who won a joint award in 2018 for their work against the issue, as well as survivors.

Britain launched a year-long campaign to highlight the issue as part of its presidency of the G8 group of industrialised nations in 2012, which then included Russia, backed by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie.

She said in a message to the latest meeting that there "has to be a decisive global response" to such assaults.

"When there isn't, it sends a message to both the victim and the perpetrator that we don't truly regard this as a significant crime that needs to be punished and prevented," she added.