Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, recently delivered a powerful message of support to Ukraine during the Restoration of the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Survivors’ Rights Conference held in Kyiv. In a video message, the Duchess quoted words of encouragement from her brother-in-law, King Charles, who commended the heroism displayed by Ukrainians in the face of adversity.
The Duchess expressed her admiration for the survivors and individuals working towards ending conflict and promoting peace in Ukraine. She emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, highlighting their bravery in speaking out about their experiences.
As a champion of the U.K. government’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), Sophie's participation in the conference underscored her commitment to advocating for the rights of survivors and promoting justice and redress for victims of such crimes.
Addressing the global crisis of conflict-related sexual violence, the Duchess acknowledged the widespread impact of such atrocities, from Myanmar to Ethiopia, Colombia to Sudan, and beyond. She condemned the use of rape as a tactic of warfare, emphasizing that conflict-related sexual violence is illegal and morally reprehensible.
During her speech, Sophie revealed that she was invited to speak at the conference by Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, who recently met with Queen Camilla in London. The Duchess highlighted the alarming statistic of over 120,000 alleged war crimes recorded in Ukraine, underscoring the urgent need to address and prevent such atrocities.
While members of the British royal family typically refrain from commenting on political matters, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with other senior royals, have shown solidarity with Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict. Prince Edward and Sophie's engagement with the Ukrainian community in Edinburgh further demonstrated their support for those affected by the crisis.
Through her advocacy work and public engagements, the Duchess of Edinburgh continues to champion the rights of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and promote peace and justice on the global stage.
