Petrified Survivors: A memorial for all survivors of sexual violence in conflict around the world.

“If in years to come, the world continues to do nothing to bring perpetrators to justice, the victims and survivors who are suffering now will be like fossilised trees who were never able to truly move on and bloom. Through the symbolism within it, Petrified Survivors memorial celebrates survival, strength and justice, by putting the needs of both historic and present day victims at the front of the drive for change.”

Rebecca Hawkins, artist behind Petrified Survivors

Designed by British artist Rebecca Hawkins, Petrified Survivors is a global memorial dedicated to all survivors and victims of sexual violence in war and conflict. This world-first sculpture confronts the invisibility of these communities in public spaces, despite their enduring suffering and the systemic denial of justice they face. By amplifying their voices, the memorial seeks to raise awareness of the historic and ongoing prevalence of these crimes across conflict zones worldwide.

The Petrified Survivors sculpture was designed following consultations with survivors, facilitated by over 20 global organisations and survivor groups. The project celebrates resilience, strength, and the pursuit of justice, centring on the needs and wishes of both historic and present-day survivors. Through art, the sculpture aims to inspire change, foster healing, and honour the courage of those who have endured unimaginable pain.

REBECCA-PROGRESS by public-art.uk on Sketchfab

The Concept

In cities across the globe, countless monuments commemorate the heroism of male combatants in war. Yet, the stories of those who have suffered sexual violence during conflict often remain unheard, their pain unacknowledged and their voices silenced.

Petrified Survivors was born from this stark absence. It is a memorial created for survivors, by survivors. It is the first sculpture designed for all victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence in war and conflict. The sculpture gives a platform to communities that have long been marginalised, their stories buried beneath layers of stigma, shame, and the crushing reality that justice is often out of reach. The sculpture was designed after consultations with survivors. These consultations were supported by organisations including Justice for Lai Dai Han (JLDH), The Mukwege Foundation, Nadia’s Initiative and many other likeminded groups.

The memorial stands as a testament to strength, determination, and unity. It is a space for recognition and healing, not only for the hundreds of survivors who contributed to its creation but also for their families and communities. By shining a spotlight on their stories, Petrified Survivors challenges the world to confront this pervasive injustice and take action.

The sculpture depicts a petrified woman, with a baby strapped to her back, ensnared by strangler fig vines. She stands on a rotatable compass, symbolising the universal prevalence of the issue. The woman and her child are bound together by entwined roots and their shared suffering as they strive to move forward on the difficult path towards justice and healing. Many survivors identify with trees or mountains as symbols of strength, and trees herald a defiant nature with their roots that travel down a long way. The word ‘petrified’ refers to being so frightened that one is unable to move, an emotion that many survivors of sexual violence will relate to, and if a tree is petrified, it is unable to bloom and grow.

“The tree-like figure stands strong, rooted to the spot, leaning forward and looking to the sky for light. The woman has her hands bound behind her back by vines, one hand clenched in defiance, the other holding a cloth that she can lie down on to sleep on when she stops running, symbolism both suggested by different survivor groups. A dove flies at the binding around her hands, working to release her. The sculpture will be of human size and will be able to be turned to face different compass points. The symbolism of trees reflects the strength of these women who have endured so much, as well as the long history of this issue that goes down such an interminable way. The sculpture will depict trees that have rotted away, leaving only the petrified vines and strangler fig tendrils, referencing the suffocating cages that survivors’ lives are trapped in. The spaces between these vines are symbolic of the invisible scars that survivors have asked to be represented. Among the vines, national flowers and birds, cultural symbols, and engravings of survivor quotes and stories are nestled, representing different survivor groups, and signifying the dreams that have been taken away from them.”

Rebecca Hawkins

Work in progress

The Petrified Survivors initiative is an evolving project and a work in progress, with talks with survivor groups and focus groups still occurring to ensure the sculpture resonates and represents all victim groups across the world. The complexity of the vines of the sculpture, which will be engraved with cultural symbols and survivor quotes, is still being informed by input from additional organisations and survivor groups. The final design will be completed in 2023.

An augmented reality (AR) version of the physical sculpture, accessible via a mobile smartphone, is being developed to give a global audience the chance to view Petrified Survivors within their homes, project it onto a public space, or look at it within an cultural institution or gallery. It will also give survivor groups and organisations that have contributed to the piece the opportunity to view the sculpture in a realistic way and see their cause represented. On the AR version, the symbols nestled into the design are accompanied by a wealth of supporting information about the associated conflict and the significance of the chosen symbol. In this way, the digital version of the sculpture provides an extra educational dimension – helping to broaden understanding about the issue of conflict-related sexual violence and its wider impact.

Partner organisations

Justice for Lai Dai Han

A campaign seeking justice for the Lai Dai Han, the tens of thousands of children of Vietnamese women abused by South Korean soldiers during the Vietnam War, and their mothers.

Nadia’s Initiative

An international NGO founded by survivor, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Laureate, Nadia Murad, which rebuilds communities in crisis and advocates for survivors of sexual violence

SEMA Network

SEMA, the Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence, was initiated in 2017 by the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation. The network originated from the first global retreat of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Geneva, Switzerland, where representatives from 14 countries agreed on the need for a global network of survivors to facilitate knowledge exchange, promote solidarity and advocate for real change and the promotion of survivors’ rights. Now active in 27 countries across Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Europe, SEMA connects local and global efforts to address conflict-related sexual violence. Members participate in national and international discussions, influencing policies and pushing for justice and systemic change.

The Mukwege Foundation

Established in 2016, the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation is an international rights-based, survivor-centred organisation working to change the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. The Mukwege Foundation supports survivors’ demands for a world where conflict-related sexual violence is no longer tolerated and bears consequences for individual perpetrators and states. As a survivor-centred organisation, the Mukwege Foundation seeks to position survivors as leaders and advocates for the change needed in the response to conflict-related sexual violence.

The Mukwege Foundation initiated and currently supports SEMA, the Global Network of Survivors, acting as its Secretariat.

Foundation Rwanda

Foundation Rwanda (FR) empowers mothers who survived the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and their children conceived through rape by providing mental health and holistic support to address their complex trauma. This includes trauma counseling, vocational training, and initiatives in microlending and entrepreneurship. The organisation also raises awareness about the consequences of genocide and sexual violence using photography and new media.

Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation works to strengthen women’s power and influence in conflict-affected areas and has done so since 1993. It was founded in response to the mass rapes committed during the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina — making the country, in many ways, Kvinna till Kvinna’s founding ground. Today, as one of the leading women’s rights organisations, it works in close partnership with women’s activist groups in over 20 countries to advance gender equality and lasting feminist peace.

Long-standing partners in BiH and Kosovo – organisations and activists deeply connected to survivors of wartime sexual violence – played a vital role in ensuring the memorial echoed survivors’ voices, hopes, and aspirations.

Impact: Center Against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict

Impact: Center against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict are an independent and trusted expertise center that makes a positive contribution to preventing and addressing trafficking in human beings and conflict-related sexual violence.

Post-Conflict Research Centre (PCRC)

Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) is a women-led, peacebuilding organization and research center dedicated to fostering a culture of peace and preventing violent conflict in the Western Balkans by creating, implementing, and supporting evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and innovative approaches to peace education, creative multimedia, conflict prevention, post-conflict research, human rights, and transitional justice.

Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice is an international women’s human rights organisation that advocates for gender justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and through domestic mechanisms, including peace negotiations and justice processes.

Grace Agenda

A community-based organisation that was registered as a response of personal experience of rape during Post Election Violence of 2007/8 in Kenya. Children were born as a result of human rights violations and inspired the walk towards justice, reparation, healing and memorialisation. This inspired the birth of Grace Agenda, a Community Organisation, and as Co-Convener of the National Victims and Survivors Network.

Comfort Women Action for Redress and Education (CARE)

CARE is a community organisation that focuses on advocacy and education regarding the “comfort women,” meaning the girls and women coerced into institutionalised sexual slavery and human trafficking perpetrated by the Japanese military during the first half of the twentieth century.

Wangu Kanja Foundation

Founded in 2005, the Wangu Kanja Foundation (WKF) is a survivor-led, feminist non-profit organisation dedicated to combating sexual violence in Kenya. Headquartered in Nairobi, WKF has a presence in all 47 counties, working to create a safer and more equitable society for survivors. Guided by survivor-centered, trauma-informed principles, WKF’s interventions prioritise survivors’ autonomy and unique needs. The organisation promotes a holistic, multi-sectoral response involving health, justice, security, education, and social services. Committed to empowering survivors and fostering gender justice, WKF leverages its extensive experience and nationwide reach to lead impactful change across Kenya’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence.

Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF):

Women at Risk International Foundation, (WARIF) is a non-profit organisation incorporated in 2016 in response to the high incidence of sexual violence, rape and human trafficking occurring among young girls and women across Nigeria.

Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights:

The Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights is a non-profit organisation based in The Hague. In order to help spread knowledge and awareness and enable researchers, academicians and lawyers to broaden the scope of their research and investigation, the Centre has developed a database highlighting information related to the issue of sexual violence against males.

Red Nacional De Promoción de Mujer

RNPM is a non-profit association. Since 1990, RNPM has worked throughout Peru in defence of women’s rights, coordinating with institutions and individuals who have an interest in promoting the rights of women.

Mane Ho Vizaun Foun (MHVF)

Mane Ho Visaun Foun is a Timorese grass-roots organisation that implements programs within remote rural communities to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and children. The organisation aims to rewrite the dominant narrative of masculinity that accepts and normalises violence against women.

Amal Healing and Advocacy Center

Amal Healing and Advocacy Center (AHAC) is a refugee-led and women-led organisation dedicated to empowering Syrian women and their families, particularly those affected by conflict, displacement, and gender-based violence. Established officially in 2017, AHAC provides psychosocial support, legal aid, capacity building, and political empowerment programs to ensure that Syrian women have the resources, skills, and support they need to advocate for their rights and rebuild their lives. AHAC also works closely with victims of torture and the families of the missing, offering specialised support to help them seek truth, justice, and healing. Committed to gender equality, social justice, and women’s leadership, AHAC strives to create a peaceful and inclusive society where Syrian women play an active role in decision-making and advocacy.

Silence to Heal

Silence to Heal (S2H) is a support group for those who have survived sexual assault and who have been trying to heal in silence. S2H is a support group where survivors can anonymously share their stories and experiences without fear – a space where the survivors can take the first step to healing.

Associazione di Solidarietà Donne per le Donne (ASDD) 

ASDD is an Afghanistan women-led organisation based in Italy, dedicated to empowering Afghanistan women both in the diaspora and within Afghanistan through education, mentorship programmes, psychosocial support, awareness-raising initiatives, and advocacy for their rights.

Centre for Equality and Justice Sri Lanka

CEJ is a women’s organisation based in Colombo working primarily on the rights of war affected women from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities.

Consortium of Women Empowerment

The Consortium of Women Empowerment is focused on addressing and preventing gender-based violence (GBV). The network engages in activities like community dialogues, training, and providing access to essential services for survivors.

Komola Collective

Komola Collective is an award-winning, female-led arts company dedicated to telling stories from women’s perspectives and driving social change through the arts. Co-founded by Leesa Gazi, the company works with marginalised groups to amplify unheard voices. Leesa co-wrote and performed in Birangona: Women of War, nominated for The Offies 2014 in the UK, and later developed it into Rising Silence, a powerful documentary about survivors of sexual violence during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. The film has won fifteen international awards and has become a formidable tool to address the issue and facilitate discussion .

Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network

SIHA aims to contribute to unlocking the massive potential of the women’s rights movement in the GHoA by strengthening the education of civil society organisations so that they can build a strong collective that advocates systemic change.

Wings of Healing

Wings of Healing is a UK-based charity dedicated to improving healthcare across Africa, with a particular focus on women’s and maternal health to make motherhood safer.

Symbolism

Every element of Petrified Survivors is imbued with meaning, crafted through three years of consultations and workshops with survivor groups worldwide. The sculpture is adorned with intricate symbols including national flowers, cultural icons, symbols of inner strength, amongst other objects, as well as survivors’ quotes and words which have been etched into the vines.
Hover on the symbols below to reveal more:

White Rose for Bosnian Survivors

Standing for innocence, remembrance, and new beginnings, white roses were chosen to honour the thousands of women subjected to wartime sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the early 1990s. While no single voice or symbol can speak for all, the rose was embraced — through broad consultations across women activists’ and survivors’ communities — as a shared tribute to lost innocence, enduring strength, and the will to rise again.

Nissan Flower for Yazidi Survivors

The red Nissan tulip, central to Yazidi New Year traditions, symbolises cultural identity and survival. It was chosen to honour those who endured ISIS atrocities and hold onto hope and heritage.

Butterfly for Historical Survivors and Hope for Change

The butterfly symbolises transformation, hope for change, and remembrance for those who survived past conflicts as well as those who have died as a result of their injuries.

Strangler Figs for Vietnamese Survivors

The strangler fig, native to Vietnam, symbolises the parasitic legacy of sexual violence and its lifelong impact. It reflects the hidden suffering and generational pain endured by survivors and their children, the Lai Dai Han.

Red Rose with Thorns and a Passion Fruit for Rwandan Survivors

The national red rose reflects how survivors wish to be seen – cherished and dignified. The passion fruit symbolises their resilience and growth, like a tree full of ripening hope.

Anemone for Kosovan Survivors

The anemone flower, found across Kosovo, has come to symbolize solidarity and empathy with survivors of wartime sexual violence. Inspired by Medica Gjakova’s book, I Am Anemone, the symbol carries the Kosovo women’s movement’s collective call for redress and recognition. Through its joint input via the “Be My Voice” platform, the anemone is endorsed to reflect survivors’ delicate strength and hope for justice.

Invisible Scars

The gaps between vines in the sculpture represent the psychological wounds survivors carry. These scars may not be visible, but their pain is lifelong and deeply felt.

Phoenix for SEMA Network

The phoenix, chosen by many survivors, symbolises rebirth, strength, and triumph over darkness. It represents transformation and rising anew, more powerful than before.

Baby strapped to mother’s back for Second-Generation Survivors

Children born of conflict-related sexual violence often face stigma and discrimination, seen as ‘symbols of misfortune’ due to their dual heritage. A Zimbabwean SEMA member suggested that the baby on the mother’s back reflects both their unbreakable bond and the burden of raising a child conceived through violence.

Children's Shoes

The shoes represent children who are survivors themselves, and the stolen dreams of both children and parents affected by sexual violence. These small, scuffed shoes remind us of innocence lost.

Conical Hat for Vietnamese Survivors

The traditional conical hat, worn for protection in rice fields, symbolises both shelter and concealment for survivors and the Lai Dai Han who have faced stigma and ostracisation from their communities. The hat represents resilience amid invisibility and the need to recognise voices too long ignored.

Sunflower for Ukrainian Survivors

The sunflower stands for peace, strength, and national identity. It has become a powerful symbol of international solidarity with Ukraine’s survivors.

Crown of Roses for South Sudanese Survivors

Survivors chose a crown of roses to reflect strength, beauty, and healing through adversity. The thorns signify pain, while the crown reclaims dignity and resilience.

Baobab Tree for Guinean Survivors

Known as the tree of life, the Baobab represents strength, endurance, and community support. It symbolises the roots survivors rely on to endure and grow.

White Tulip for Ivorian Survivors

Chosen for its meaning of love and peace, the white tulip reflects survivors' strength and grace. Its resilience mirrors the courage of those who have endured.

Harpy Eagle for Colombian Survivors

The eagle represents strength, wisdom, and transformation through pain. It soars above the storm, reminding survivors of their power to rise and lead others to healing.

Gnetum Plant for Central African Republic Survivors

The Gnetum plant is hardy and thrives in difficult environments, much like the survivors who chose it. Often used for treating snake bites, Gnetum plants are traditionally cultivated by rural women, and symbolises resilience, healing, and cultural strength.

Flame Lily for Zimbabwean Survivors

The flame lily was chosen for its quiet strength and enduring presence, blooming even in hardship. It reflects perseverance, dignity, and the subtle but powerful resilience of survivors.

Flor de Maguey for Guatemalan Survivors

This edible flower symbolises resilience, chosen by survivors who say, “when it is cut down, it sprouts again.” It represents collective strength within their network and enduring hope for renewal.

Name of Poet Asik Veysel on Hand for Turkish Survivors

The name of blind poet Asik Veysel, etched onto a hand, represents inspiration and survival through art. His words gave one survivor strength to endure and reclaim his story.

Hand Covering Face for Male Turkish Survivors

The hand shielding the face reflects both the shame and silencing experienced by male survivors. It also recalls the simple, human act of touch used to hold onto selfhood amidst torture and darkness.

Tree by the Water Bank for Ugandan Survivors

Ugandan survivors chose a tree near a water bank to reflect the nurturing power of care and recovery. Like the tree, they bear fruit when given dignity, safety, and healing.

Sewn Lips

This powerful symbol reflects the silencing of survivors who are unable or forbidden to speak about their experiences. It represents emotional suppression and the broader culture of denial surrounding conflict-related sexual violence.

Dove Loosening Vines for Congolese Survivors

A dove trying to free the woman's bound hands symbolises the struggle for peace, freedom, and dignity. It captures the tension between trauma and the desire for healing.

Trees for Kenyan Survivors

Many survivors identified with trees, which represent a resilient force and a defiant nature with their roots that travel deep into the earth. Jacqueline Mutere, a Kenyan survivor and founder of Grace Agenda, wrote the poem “I Am A Tree”, offering it as a symbol of both her suffering and hope. She called on her community to “pour faith and love in my soil, that I may live again.”

14 August 1991: Justice, Remembrance, and the Beginning of a Global Movement by "Comfort Women" Survivors

This date marks the first public testimony by Kim Hak-Sun, a survivor of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery system. Her courage broke decades of silence and inspired others across Asia to speak out. It symbolises justice, remembrance, and the beginning of a global movement for Comfort Women survivors.

Torch with Flame for Bangladeshi Survivors

The flaming torch represents the inner strength and bravery of survivors who continue to seek justice after over 50 years. The silhouette within the flame honours a recently lost survivor, symbolising both loss and courage.

Hibiscus for Kenyan Survivors

The hibiscus flower symbolises resilience and renewal, emerging strong and beautiful after adversity. Kenyan survivor groups chose it to represent hope and new beginnings after post-election violence.

Toy Lion Cub for Second-Generation Rwandan Survivors

The toy lion cub honours children born of rape during the genocide – symbols of both lost innocence and emerging courage. It speaks to their inherited pain and determination to reclaim their own identities.

Broken Flip Flop

First suggested by a Rwandan survivor, the broken flip flop symbolises the countless children affected by conflict-related sexual violence. It reflects displacement, vulnerability, loss, and the human cost of war on the youngest victims.

Defiant Woman for Nigerian Survivors

This symbol depicts a defiant woman, with her arm and fist raised, formed in coffee beans - reflecting strength and courage, even in the face of hardship. Inspired by survivor artwork, it represents resistance, pride, and the refusal to be silenced.

Lion with Half-Shaved Mane for Male African Survivors

The lion, a symbol of power in African cultures, appears with half his mane shorn to reflect the hidden trauma of male survivors. It signifies the felt loss of masculinity, identity, stigma, and the silent wounds of sexual violence.

Retama Flower for Peruvian Survivors

Once used to honour slain teachers, the Retama now stands for those who suffered during Peru’s civil war, including survivors of sexual violence. It is a lasting symbol of bravery, remembrance, and resistance.

Firefly for Timorese Survivors

The firefly glows in the darkest night, reminding survivors that even in suffering, hope can shine. It is a symbol of resilience, of finding light when all seems lost.

White Jasmine Wrapped Around Scales of Justice for Syrian and Turkish Survivors

The jasmine, a symbol of purity and peace, coils around the scales of justice, representing hope for accountability amid prolonged conflict. Survivors chose it to honour the beauty of their homeland and their longing for serenity and truth.

Broken Coconut with Jasmine and Hibiscus for Sri Lankan Survivors

A 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.

Almond Flower and Red Tulip Posy for Survivors of Afghanistan

The red tulip blooms after harsh winters and frost, bringing new life to the land each spring. Like the red tulip, the women of Afghanistan bring life and renewal—they show strength and hope despite enduring violence and oppression. The almond flower, hand-stitched by Hazara women, symbolises resilience and represents their identity. It reflects their unique almond-shaped eyes and stands for their steady resistance against years of discrimination and oppression.

Orchid for North Sudanese Survivors

The orchid, or sahlabiya, grows in harsh climates and lives long, symbolising beauty and resilience in adversity. Chosen by Sudanese survivors, it represents survival and strength despite years of war and sexual violence.

Patched Lion for Kenyan Survivors

This lion, sewn together by survivors, stands for resilience amid pain “brave as a lion.” It reflects both strength and scars, echoing years of unresolved promises and persistent bravery.

Mango and Chilli for Indian Survivors

The mango, marked with "DO NOT TOUCH MY BODY," represents strength and self-sovereignty, while the chilli inscribed with “Nirbhaya” honours resistance and protection. Together, they embody cultural identity, collective rage, and survival.

Sycamore Seeds for Tigrayan Survivors

The sycamore is a drought-resistant plant that nourishes, shelters, and heals chosen by survivors as a symbol of endurance and maternal strength. It reflects their resilience amid ongoing war and unimaginable hardship.

A Toy Ambulance for Young Male Survivors

The toy ambulance is a symbol for boys and men who have endured sexual violence – often in silence. It reflects the overlooked reality of male survivors and the stigma they face.

Flying Birds

Birds represent the freedom many survivors long for – freedom from trauma, stigma, and silence. They symbolise peace, transcendence, and emotional release.

Fruit & Flowers

Survivors consistently requested the inclusion of fruit and flowers in the memorial. These elements represent growth, healing, and the enduring power of hope.

Mountains

Many survivors identify with mountains as enduring symbols of strength and resilience. Rooted in the earth and reaching upward, they speak to the strength of survivors who continue to endure, even when their struggle is invisible. One survivor expressed this connection declaring “I am stronger than a mountain."

Sunshine for Hope

Etched into the papoose holding a child, the sun symbolises the hope. It embodies light, renewal, and the promise of healing.

Where will Petrified Survivors go?

In Summer 2025, Petrified Survivors was unveiled in The Hague – a city renowned as a global centre for peace, justice, and international law. As the seat of key international courts, The Hague provides a powerful and symbolic setting for a memorial that honours survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, demands justice, and promotes peace.

In September 2025, the sculpture travelled to Berlin, where it was inaugurated and is being temporarily displayed along the Ernst-Friedrich-Promenade in the diverse Brüsseler Kiez neighbourhood until 2027. It will then move to Wassenaar, The Netherlands.