THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – A new memorial honouring all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) from around the world was unveiled yesterday in at the British Ambassador’s Residence in The Hague. Petrified Survivors, created by sculptor Rebecca Hawkins in collaboration with over 20 anti-CRSV organisations and survivors from more than 30 countries, was unveiled by outgoing British Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Joanna Roper CMG alongside survivors from Kenya, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Syria and others.
The memorial is the result of a four-year, survivor-led consultation process. Partner organisations worldwide facilitated focus groups and workshops, ensuring the design reflects the lived realities of survivors worldwide. The sculpture stands a lasting space for remembrance, recognition, and collective healing.
The artwork depicts a petrified woman with an infant strapped to her back, encased in strangler fig vines. Her hands are bound behind her, with clenched fists symbolising defiance, while a dove tries to loosen the vines. Viewed from above, the sculpture resembles a speech mark or teardrop, evoking the weight of unheard testimony and collective suffering. She stands rooted on a rotatable compass, leaning toward the light – a metaphor for survivors’ strength and the global scale of CRSV. Among the vines are national flowers, birds, and cultural symbols representing diverse survivor communities. Etched survivor quotes speak to trauma and strength, with empty spaces between the vines reflecting the invisible scars survivors carry.
Symbols chosen by survivors include:
- A broken Coconut with Jasmine and Hibiscus, the cracked coconut speaks to survival and nourishment during scarcity, while jasmine represents flourishing after care. The red and yellow hibiscus flowers reflect the gendered impact of war – marked by both harm and hope;
- Flying birds represent the freedom many survivors long for – freedom from trauma, stigma and silence;
- Trees which represent a resilient force and a defiant nature with their roots that travel deep into the earth;
- Baby strapped to mother’s back representing second-generation survivors who face stigma and discrimination due to their dual heritage.
The memorial’s unveiling coincides with calls for broader policy changes in public art and commemoration. These themes were discussed during a panel at the unveiling featuring survivors and partner organisation representatives: Leesa Gazi (Komola Collective); Shahrbanu Haidari (Associazione di Solidarietà Donne per le Donne); and Jacqueline Mutere (Grace Agenda).
Rebecca Hawkins, artist and sculptor of Petrified Survivors said:
“Sexual violence is one of the most widespread crimes in history – present in every conflict, past and present. Survivors’ strength has profoundly moved me during this project. I’m honoured to help transform their stories into a permanent tribute. This sculpture carries their voices with dignity and challenges silence through public art. “
Jacque Mutere, founder/director of Grace Agenda and panellist at the event, added:
“This sculpture reminds us that when the guns fall silent, trauma does not go away. This memorial is a living testament to survivors’ suffering and resilience. Survivor voices have shaped every step of this process – and must continue to shape all decisions that affect us. Our collective stories are symbols of hope, endurance, and resilience, which are captured beautifully in this majestic sculpture. As she stands in painful dignity, may Petrified Survivors inspire real change and honour our collective strength.”
Petrified Survivors will remain in The Hague until August 2025, after which it will be relocated to Berlin and installed along the Ernst-Friedrich-Promenade in the diverse Brüsseler Kiez neighbourhood until 2027. It will then move to the Raadhuis de Paauw in Wassenaar, The Netherlands.
The Petrified Survivors partner organisations remain committed to identifying future meaningful locations for the sculpture worldwide, ensuring survivor communities can engage with its story and connect with the global survivors it represents.
For more information, interview opportunities and media requests please contact:
Peter Gillanders
Sans Frontières Associates
+44 7717 260032
Lily Owen
Sans Frontières Associates
lowen@sfassociates.ltd
+44 7342 232308
ABOUT PETRIFIED SURVIVORS
Petrified Survivors is the world’s first memorial sculpture dedicated to all victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence globally. Created through a three-year collaborative process with survivors from over 30 countries, the sculpture incorporates cultural symbols, national flowers, and engraved survivor testimonies within its design. The memorial aims to break the silence surrounding CRSV, create spaces for remembrance and reflection, and honour survivors’ resilience while advocating for justice and prevention.
PETRIFIED SURVIVORS PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
The project was developed in collaboration with over 20 organisations working on conflict-related sexual violence issues worldwide, including:
Amal Centre Associazione di Solidarietà Donne per le Donne (ASDD); Centre for African Justice; Peace and Human Rights Centre for Equality and Justice Sri Lanka; Consortium of Women Empowerment; Foundation Rwanda; Grace Agenda; Impact: Center Against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict; Justice for Lai Dai Han; Komola Collective; Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation; Mane Ho Visaun Founs (MHVF); Nadia’s Initiative; Post-Conflict Research Centre (PCRC); Red Nacional de Promocion de Mujer (RNPM); SEMA Network; Silence to Heal; Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network; The Mukwege Foundation; Wangu Kanja Foundation; Wings of Healing; Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF); Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice.
ABOUT REBECCA HAWKINS
Rebecca Hawkins is a British artist renowned for creating powerful memorials that honour the resilience of women and marginalised communities affected by conflict. Her notable works include ‘Mother & Child’ in St. James’s Square, London, which commemorates the Lai Dai Han- children born to Vietnamese women assaulted during the Vietnam War and ‘Mother & Justice’, created with Nobel laureate Nadia Murad to mark the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. Rebecca advocates for art as a means to raise awareness of social justice issues and amplify marginalised voices. Petrified Survivors builds upon her established practice of creating memorials for those touched by conflict, developed through extensive collaboration with organisations including Justice for Lai Dai Han, The Mukwege Foundation, Nadia’s Initiative, and other likeminded survivor support groups worldwide.
Her website is www.rebeccahawkinssculpture.co.uk.
