SEMA Ukraine: Documentary film TRACES calls for global action and solidarity

The Hague — 16  February 2026. 

TRACES is an act of collective resistance by Ukrainian women who survived conflict-related sexual violence and torture and refused to remain silent. More than a film, it is a testimony, solidarity, and a call for justice.

On February 16th, TRACES will have its world premiere at the Berlinale, and we call on the international community to stand with Ukrainian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence resulting from Russian aggression.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, over 90% of former Ukrainian military and civilian captives reported torture and inhuman treatment by Russian military personnel. The United Nations has also found that Russian torture — including sexualised torture — is widespread, systematic, and sanctioned at the highest political and military levels, constituting crimes against humanity.

Since 24 February 2022, the UN has documented 664 cases of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian officials against men, women, girls, and boys. 

This represents only the tip of the iceberg. Сonflict-related sexual violence remains one of the most silenced and stigmatised war crimes worldwide, and only a small fraction of survivors come forward to testify.

Become our partner in the impact campaign to end sexual violence as a weapon of war.

With your support, we will:

• Organise screenings in Ukraine and internationally, fostering dialogue among survivors, policymakers, human rights actors, and civil society to advance accountability, including efforts to hold Russia responsible for conflict-related sexual violence.
• Develop and host a series of community screenings accompanied by public discussions and educational sessions to challenge stigma and isolation, and to support survivors’ access to care, protection, and justice.
• Collaborate with national and international partners to develop and promote survivor-centred transitional justice approaches in Ukraine, prioritising reparations, truth-seeking, and long-term human-centred reforms aligned with Ukraine’s democratic and European future.

To learn more about this initiative, please visit here.

To become our partners in the impact campaign for TRACES, please visit here.