Our story
First global retreat in Geneva, bringing together survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from 14 countries. During this retreat, survivors decided to create a Global Network of Survivors to:
- Build solidarity between survivors worldwide
- Contribute to the collective memory around CRSV
- Breaking the silence around CRSV
- Advocating for the end of sexual violence used as a weapon of war and the rights of survivors, including the right to reparations.
During this first retreat, survivors write, record and perform the network’s first song ‘Little Bird’, and decide on their motto “Nothing About Us, Without Us”.
The second global retreat of survivors takes place in the Netherlands. Survivors decide on a name for their network: SEMA which means ‘Speak Out’ in Swahili.
SEMA members speak for the first time at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and they continue to advocate for reparations.
Four survivors of the global network participated in the first Memorial Day for ‘Comfort Women’ celebrated in South Korea on 14 August and spoke at the International Symposium where they expressed their solidarity with Korean women. On this occasion, SEMA member Sylvia was awarded the first Kim Bok-dong Peace Prize.
Third global retreat of survivor takes place in Luxembourg with survivors from 18 countries. SEMA participated in the Stand Speak Rise Up international conference organised by Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Twenty members of SEMA spoke during the event about holistic care, reparations, survivors’ movements, children born of rape and justice.
In March 2019, SEMA was at the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Tatiana Mukanire (DRC) and Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman (Kosovo) called for universal access to holistic care for all victims of wartime sexual violence.
Made possible by the network’s strong advocacy efforts, SEMA members see their dream of a global fund for reparations come to reality. In October, SEMA members participate in the launch of the Global Survivors Fund in New York.
Facing a global pandemic, SEMA members start meeting online more regularly. They continue to advocate for holistic care, justice and reparations in online public-speaking events.
SEMA member Tatiana Mukanire (DRC) participates in the 44th session of the Human Rights Council. SEMA member Grace Acan (Uganda) speaks at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. SEMA members also participate in CSW’s side event, the launch of the Declaration of Humanity by leaders of faith and leaders of belief and the launch of ICRC’s report on mandatory reporting of sexual violence in armed conflict.
SEMA members see each other in person after 1+ year of a global pandemic at the Regional Symposium of Survivors in Uganda. This symposium brought together 22 survivors of grave crimes, including sexual violence, torture, human trafficking, among others.
SEMA members participate in the UN General Assembly’s side event ‘Women in Conflicts’.
SEMA expands from 21 to 26 countries around the world.
Global retreat of SEMA in the Netherlands, reuniting survivors from 21 countries. During the retreat, SEMA members write and record their new song ‘Solidarity’ and start engaging with the Mukwege Foundation’s Red Line Initiative.
22 SEMA members attend the PSVI Conference in November, in London. 13 SEMA members were panelists in this conference. SEMA hosts a session at the conference: Five years of SEMA: the successes and challenges of the global movement of survivors of CRSV.
SEMA creates its Call to Action and launches it at PSVI’s Conference.
Release of photo book “Breaking the Silence: Turning Pain Into Power”.
26 SEMA members from 11 African countries participated in a regional retreat in Nairobi, Kenya. During the retreat, SEMA recorded a new song “Freedom”.
Launch of SEMA’s art exhibition “We Are Speaking, Are You Listening?”.
SEMA members spoke at several conferences and meetings, including FIGO’s 2023 World Congress, the PSVI Wilton Park Survivors Retreat, Wilton Park’s conference on the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty and the launch of the Mukwege Foundation’s Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.
SEMA was at the forefront of the art installation Thinking of You (The Hague 2024) – an art exhibition by Alketa Xhafa Mripa dedicated to survivors of CRSV – by collecting and donating 500+ dresses for the installation.
SEMA members Jaqueline Mutere (Kenya) and Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman (Kosovo) participated in the expert panel discussion “The ICJ: An effective avenue for prevention, justice and redress for CRSV?” in The Hague.