Petrified Survivors
‘Petrified Survivors’, designed by British artist Rebecca Hawkins, is a world-first memorial dedicated to all victims and survivors of sexual violence in war and conflict around the world. The sculpture was co-created with 20 global organisations and survivors from over 30 countries. This powerful artwork addresses the invisibility of these survivors in public spaces, despite their prolonged and brutal suffering and their fight for acknowledgement and justice.
SASVIC, as well as the Petrified Survivors partner organisations, are committed to identifying meaningful locations for the sculpture, ensuring that as many survivor communities and societies as possible have the opportunity to engage with its story, reflect on its symbolism, and be moved by the global survivors it speaks for. In doing so, we aim to keep the conversation alive, promote education and understanding, and inspire ongoing international dialogue and action..
Rebecca Hawkins, whose work explores the strength and courage of women in her work, advocates for art as a means of giving a voice for marginalised or stigmatised communities. The word “petrified” refers to the survivors’ overwhelming fear experienced during these crimes, rendering them unable to move. It is a feeling deeply felt by survivors of sexual violence.
The sculpture depicts a petrified woman with an infant strapped to her back, ensnared by strangler figs. She stands on a rotatable compass, symbolling the universal prevalence of this issue. The tree-like figure stands strong, rooted in place, leaning forward and looking to the sky for light. Her hands are bound behind her, with clenched fists capturing her defiance, while a dove attempts to loosen the vines around her wrists. She and her child are bound together by entwined roots and shared suffering, as they strive to move forward on the difficult path towards justice and healing.
The sculpture incorporates stories and contributions from survivors worldwide. Among the vines national flowers, 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. The gaps between the vines represent their invisible scars.
The symbols and design elements were identified through focus group discussions conducted by partner organisations with the survivors they support, as well as through survivors’ testimonies. This collaborative approach ensures the sculpture resonates with and represents all victim survivor groups worldwide.
Public sculptures like the Petrified Survivors commemorate survivors from all nations and serve as powerful symbols of acknowledgment and validation, breaking the silence and stigma that often surrounds their experiences across different societies. The sculpture not only creates a space for remembrance and reflection, but also demonstrates commitment to recognising survivors’ resilience, contributing to both individual and collective healing by transforming their experiences into public recognition and honour.
Partner Organisations
More than 20 global survivor-led and advocacy organisations, and survivors from over 30 countries, contributed to Petrified Survivors.
The Petrified Survivors initiative aims to incorporate the perspectives of all survivor groups in this sculpture and welcomes further collaborations.
The symbols included in the sculpture are:
Nissan Flower for Yazidi Survivors
Nissan Flower for Yazidi Survivors
Click to read moreStrangler Figs for Vietnamese Survivors
Strangler Figs for Vietnamese Survivors
Click to read moreFlame Lily for Zimbabwean Survivors
Flame Lily for Zimbabwean Survivors
Click to read morePhoenix for SEMA Network
Phoenix for SEMA Network
Click to read moreSunflower for Ukrainian Survivors
Sunflower for Ukrainian Survivors
Click to read moreCrown of Roses for South Sudanese Survivors
Crown of Roses for South Sudanese Survivors
Click to read moreBaobab Tree for Guinean Survivors
Baobab Tree for Guinean Survivors
Click to read moreWhite Tulip for Ivorian Survivors
White Tulip for Ivorian Survivors
Click to read moreHarpy Eagle for Colombian Survivors
Harpy Eagle for Colombian Survivors
Click to read moreGnetum Plant for Central African Republic Survivors
Gnetum Plant for Central African Republic Survivors
Click to read moreConical Hat for Vietnamese Survivors
Conical Hat for Vietnamese Survivors
Click to read moreFlor de Maguey for Guatemalan Survivors
Flor de Maguey for Guatemalan Survivors
Click to read moreName of Poet Asik Veysel on Hand for Turkish Survivors
Name of Poet Asik Veysel on Hand for Turkish Survivors
Click to read moreHand Covering Face for Male Turkish Survivors
Hand Covering Face for Male Turkish Survivors
Click to read moreTree by the Water Bank for Ugandan Survivors
Tree by the Water Bank for Ugandan Survivors
Click to read moreWhite Rose for Bosnian Survivors
White Rose for Bosnian Survivors
Click to read moreSewn Lips
Sewn Lips
Click to read moreDove Loosening Vines for Congolese Survivors
Dove Loosening Vines for Congolese Survivors
Click to read moreTrees for Kenyan Survivors
Trees for Kenyan Survivors
Click to read more14 August 1991: Justice, remembrance, and the beginning of a global movement by “Comfort Women” survivors
14 August 1991: Justice, remembrance, and the beginning of a global movement by “Comfort Women” survivors
Click to read moreAnemone for Kosovan Survivors
Anemone for Kosovan Survivors
Click to read moreTorch with Flame for Bangladeshi Survivors
Torch with Flame for Bangladeshi Survivors
Click to read moreHibiscus for Kenyan Survivors
Hibiscus for Kenyan Survivors
Click to read moreRed Rose with thorns and a Passion Fruit for Rwandan Survivors
Red Rose with thorns and a Passion Fruit for Rwandan Survivors
Click to read moreToy Lion Cub for Second-Generation Rwandan Survivors
Toy Lion Cub for Second-Generation Rwandan Survivors
Click to read moreBroken Flip Flop
Broken Flip Flop
Click to read moreDefiant Woman for Nigerian Survivors
Defiant Woman for Nigerian Survivors
Click to read moreLion with Half-Shaved Mane for Male African Survivors
Lion with Half-Shaved Mane for Male African Survivors
Click to read moreRetama Flower for Peruvian Survivors
Retama Flower for Peruvian Survivors
Click to read moreFirefly for Timorese Survivors
Firefly for Timorese Survivors
Click to read moreWhite Jasmine Wrapped Around Scales of Justice for Syrian and Turkish Survivors
White Jasmine Wrapped Around Scales of Justice for Syrian and Turkish Survivors
Click to read moreBroken Coconut with Jasmine and Hibiscus for Sri Lankan Survivors
Broken Coconut with Jasmine and Hibiscus for Sri Lankan Survivors
Click to read moreAlmond Flower and Red Tulip Posy for Survivors of Afghanistan
Almond Flower and Red Tulip Posy for Survivors of Afghanistan
Click to read moreOrchid for North Sudanese Survivors
Orchid for North Sudanese Survivors
Click to read morePatched Lion for Kenyan Survivors
Patched Lion for Kenyan Survivors
Click to read moreMango and Chilli for Indian Survivors
Mango and Chilli for Indian Survivors
Click to read moreSycamore Seeds for Tigrayan Survivors
Sycamore Seeds for Tigrayan Survivors
Click to read moreBaby strapped to mother’s back for Second-Generation Survivors
Baby strapped to mother’s back for Second-Generation Survivors
Click to read moreInvisible Scars
Invisible Scars
Click to read moreToy Ambulance for Young Male Survivors
Toy Ambulance for Young Male Survivors
Click to read moreChildren's shoes
Children's shoes
Click to read moreFlying Birds
Flying Birds
Click to read moreFruit & Flowers
Fruit & Flowers
Click to read moreMountains
Mountains
Click to read moreSunshine for Hope
Sunshine for Hope
Click to read moreButterfly for Historical Survivors and Hope for Change
Butterfly for Historical Survivors and Hope for Change
Click to read moreWhite Nun Orchid for Guatemalan survivors
Phoenix for the SEMA group
August 14, 1991, for "Comfort Women"
A Dove trying to free the hands of the survivors
Children’s Shoes representing child survivors and the children born as a result of sexual abuse during war
A Toy Car for a boy as a symbol for male survivors
A Butterfly as a symbol for historical survivors
Sunflower for Ukraine survivors
Crown of Rose Flowers for South Sudanese survivors
Baobab Tree for Guinean survivors
White Tulip for Ivorian survivors
An Eagle for Colombian survivors
Gnetum plant for the Central African Republican survivors
A Dove Covered in Blood Flying Away for Congolese survivors
Hibiscus for Kenyan survivors
White Rose for Bosnian survivors
Flame Lily for Zimbabwean survivors
Torch with a Flame for Bangladeshi survivors
Nissan flower for Yazidi survivors
Strangler figs for Vietnamese survivors
Red Rose with a Passion Fruit for Rwandan survivors
Anemone for Kosovan survivors
Where?
It is SASVIC’s ambition to ensure that Petrified Survivors is seen and experienced by communities across the globe – including by survivors who helped shape its creation. This commitment forms a core part of SASVIC’s mission: to promote awareness through art that is universal and representative, moving beyond fragmented or nationally confined narratives to recognize that it concerns not only the victims or survivor groups but all of us, and to create political momentum for lasting change. In Summer 2025, the sculpture was unveiled for the first time in The Hague – a city renowned as a global centre for peace, justice, and international law. The Hague’s status as a hub for international accountability made it a fitting stage for the debut of a memorial dedicated to recognising the suffering of survivors, demanding justice, and promoting peace in the aftermath of conflict.
Following the unveiling in The Hague, the sculpture travelled to Berlin to be inaugurated in the diverse Brüsseler Kiez neighbourhood where it will be temporarily displayed until 2027 before the sculpture is temporarily installed at Raadhuis De Paauw in Wassenaar in the Netherlands.We are actively exploring additional locations around the world to bring Petrified Survivors to a wider global audience – ensuring it gains the visibility and exposure it deserves. By carrying the sculpture across cities, we aim to spark vital conversations in different cultural and political contexts and to strengthen a shared global commitment to ending conflict-related sexual violence. In each location our goal is to integrate ‘Petrified Survivors’ into the community’s everyday life, working closely with the district and its residents. There are plans to use the sculpture’s installation as a catalyst for raising awareness through additional programs.
How to visit Petrified Survivors
Petrified Survivors is now open for public viewing in Berlin, where it will remain until September 2027 before continuing its journey to the Netherlands. This guide provides all the practical information you need to visit the sculpture.
Location
Petrified Survivors is located on Ernst-Friedrich-Promenade in the Brüsseler Kiez neighbourhood of Berlin’s Mitte District, positioned directly adjacent to the Anti-Kriegs Museum. The sculpture stands on public ground and is freely accessible 24/7, allowing visitors to engage with this memorial at any time.
Address: Ernst-Friedrich-Promenade, 13353 Berlin
Nearest landmark: Anti-Kriegs Museum (Anti-War Museum)
Getting There
The sculpture is easily accessible via multiple public transport options:
- Amrumer Straße: 4 min walk (U9)
- Leopoldplatz: 10 min walk (U6, U9)
- Seestraße: 12 min walk (U6)
- Westhafen: 15 min walk (S41, S42)
- Wedding: 17 min walk (S8, S41, S42)
Tram:
- Seestraße/Amrumer Straße: 10 min walk (Tram 50, M13)
- U Seestraße: 12 min walk (Tram 50, M13)
Bus:
- Amrumer Straße: 4 min walk (Bus 142, 221, N9)
- Luxemburg Straße: 6 min walk (Bus 142, 221, N9)
- Seestraße/Amrumer Straße: 10 min walk (Bus 106, N26)