SEMA at PSVI 2024: Survivors lead the way in Bogotá

In November, members of SEMA, the Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence, convened in Bogotá, Colombia, for a two-day advocacy workshop followed by the PSVI (Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative) Conference.

This gathering provided a space for survivors to connect, strategise, and amplify their voices on the global stage. The pre-conference workshop, organised by the Mukwege Foundation, fostered solidarity and set the stage for impactful survivor-led advocacy at the PSVI Conference.

Together with the survivors from the PSVI Survivor Advisory Group (SAG) and survivors from Colombia, SEMA emphasised their collective demands as set out in the Survivors’ Call to Action, including reparations, justice, and survivor-centred solutions to end conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

Advocacy priorities: A two-day workshop 

On November 23 and 24, over 20 survivors representing 12 countries gathered in Bogotá for the pre-conference workshop.

The event brought together members of SAG, SEMA, and Colombian survivors, creating a safe and collaborative space for refining advocacy strategies and preparing for their interventions at the PSVI Conference.

The SAG, comprising survivors of CRSV and individuals born of CRSV, was established by the UK government to ensure that survivors played a central role in shaping the design and implementation of the PSVI Conference. 

Day 1: Building connections and prioritizing advocacy goals 

The first day focused on building connections and rapport among survivors from SEMA and SAG. Through icebreakers and open discussions, the two networks shared their own advocacy priorities and learned from each other’s perspectives and work. 

The highlight of the day was the session by Ambassador Arlene B. Tickner, who guided participants through the agenda of the PSVI Conference, offering valuable insights into its various sessions and their significance. 

Throughout day 1, survivors reviewed the advocacy priorities of both SAG and SEMA. The workshop provided a unique opportunity for SAG members to revisit their priorities established during previous meetings, ensuring alignment and clarity ahead of the PSVI Conference. The SEMA Call to Action, which outlines 13 key demands for addressing CRSV, was a guiding framework for the discussions on SEMA priorities.  

Survivors discussed ways to align and amplify these priorities during the PSVI conference, with a focus on funding, access to justice, reparations, and dismantling systemic barriers that hinder survivors from meaningfully participating in decision-making processes related to CRSV.

Day 2: Refining strategies for the PSVI conference 

On the second day, survivors revisited the previous day’s discussions and refined their priorities for the PSVI Conference. Breakout sessions allowed survivors to explore how these priorities could be amplified at the PSVI Conference. 

A presentation by Esther Dingemans, Executive Director of the Global Survivors Fund, highlighted opportunities for advocating reparations and the importance of co-creating all interventions with survivors.  

By the end of the workshop, SEMA, SAG, and Colombian survivors identified several shared priorities to highlight at the PSVI Conference. These included: 

• Dedicated funding for survivors, including grants for survivor-led organisations and financial remuneration for their expertise.
• Providing survivors with rehabilitation, raising awareness and fighting against stigma. 
• Strengthening justice and accountability mechanisms for CRSV. 
• Increasing awareness and implementation of holistic reparations to address stigma and discrimination. 
• Ensuring a survivor-centred approach across all stages of intervention. 

This collective work reaffirmed the strong alignment between the priorities of SAG and SEMA, underscoring their shared commitment to addressing CRSV.

Both networks agreed to continue their collaboration, with SAG members providing further input into the SEMA Call to Action. This ongoing partnership aims to enhance the Call to Action’s impact, ensuring it remains a powerful and inclusive framework that reflects the collective voices and advocacy goals of survivors. 

The workshop concluded with 82% of participants strongly agreeing that they were given meaningful opportunities to participate and to clarify their advocacy priorities. 

Survivors take centre stage at PSVI Conference 2024

SEMA members at the PSVI Conference 2024

From November 25 to 26, SEMA and SAG members played a pivotal role at the PSVI Conference. They shared their stories and championed survivor-centered solutions. They demonstrated the transformative power of survivor-led advocacy through panel discussions and high-level engagements.  

Day 1: PSVI Conference 2024

SEMA members Grace and Vasfije were joined by Anja, representing the Forgotten Children of War Association, for a session on children born of war and CRSV survivors. 

• Grace highlighted the urgent need for reparations to combat stigma and help survivors rebuild their lives. 
• Vasfije shared her powerful story as the first survivor to publicly speak out in Kosovo, calling for justice and accountability for CRSV. 
• Anja advocated for the rights and legal protections of children born of war, emphasising the need for global awareness of their unique challenges. 

Day 2: PSVI Conference

Riyad, a SEMA member, asks participants to stand up in support of survivors

On the second day, SEMA members took part in panels focused on restorative justice, reparations, and innovative tools for addressing CRSV. 

“Nothing about us, without us. Survivors need to be here. The Call to Action makes clear demands for states to address these failures.” – Shyrete 

• Restorative justice: Vasfije called for urgent action to end impunity for perpetrators of CRSV. 
• Early reparations: Shyrete and Grace discussed the importance of reparations for survivors of CRSV for healing and recovery. 
• Innovative tools to address CRSV: Shyrete and Riyad joined representatives from the Mukwege Foundation to present the SEMA Call to Action and other innovative tools which can be used to address CRSV. 
• Restorative justice: Vasfije called for urgent action to end impunity for perpetrators of CRSV. 

Key moments captured in Bogotá 

SEMA members forging new alliances to combat CRSV.

SEMA’s participation in the PSVI Conference underscored the power of survivor-led advocacy. From the pre-conference workshop to discussions at the PSVI Conference, SEMA members showcased their leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to ending CRSV. 

• At the pre-conference workshop, survivors from SEMA, SAG, and Colombia united in identifying common demands for survivors of CRSV. 
• Group photos capture the strength and solidarity of all survivors, symbolising their shared mission. 
• At the PSVI Conference, survivors from SEMA, SAG, and Colombia presented their shared priorities and amplified their voices.

As the global community continues its efforts to address CRSV, SEMA’s message is clear: 

“Survivors must be at the heart of every solution.” 

To learn more about SEMA’s work and the Call to Action, visit End CRSV.