Justice Denied represented the first opportunity to speak about CRSV in the Indo-Pacific context grounded in survivor experiences, country-specific insights and localised pathways to survivor-centred justice.

As one participant said: “This conference gave us more than a platform – it gave us a path forward.”

More than 200 experts, advocates, survivors, and policymakers gathered in Melbourne for Justice Denied: Fighting Widespread Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), the first international conference of its kind to be held in Australia dedicated exclusively to this urgent human rights crisis.

Hosted by the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW) in partnership with the Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria (AIIA), the two-day conference marked a critical turning point in the global response to CRSV, particularly in underrepresented regions such as the Indo-Pacific.

“Justice delayed is justice denied” – Prof. Kim Thuy Seelinger

The conference emphasised placing survivors and their communities at the centre of justice conversations, and that survivor agency and dignity must guide all legal, political, and social responses.

Presenters from grassroots organisations, survivor-centred justice alliances, and international organisations shared hard-won lessons from countries where justice remains elusive, as well as stories of perseverance, solidarity, healing, and survivor-led change.

Representing Voices Across the Region and Globe

The conference brought together speakers from across the region and the globe, with a strong emphasis on expert voices and lived experience from conflict-affected situations. Countries represented included:

• Myanmar
• Afghanistan
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
• Indonesia
• Timor-Leste
• Kosovo
• Cambodia
• India
• Ukraine
• Norway
• Belgium
• USA
• UK
• The Netherlands
• Fiji
• Australia

Many of these countries continue to face systemic barriers to documenting and reporting CRSV as well as to pursuing justice for victim-survivors, ranging from political silencing and resource limitations to cultural and institutional impunity. The conference served as a rare and powerful space for cross-border solidarity and learning.

From Dialogue to Direction: A Statement of Action

A major outcome of the conference is the development of a Statement of Action, a collaborative document that will consolidate insights from speakers and participants into a strategic roadmap for advancing justice, rights and services for CRSV survivors. There was wide consensus that more evidence-building and education on CRSV are vital for supporting advocacy in the region.

The draft Statement is currently being finalised, with feedback from participants. It will be publicly released and serve as a guide for governments, legal institutions, researchers, and civil society organisations to take forward key actions.

This document will outline key recommendations, including:

• Centring survivors in all stages of justice processes
• Expanding support for regional accountability mechanisms
• Resourcing survivor-led recovery and reparations
• Elevating grassroots and community-led initiatives