Sexual Crimes in Conflict Database

A collection of relevant literature and case law

Showing all 4 results.
  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ECCC - Khieu Samphan (“Nuon Chea et al.”)

    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution Procedural Rules Advancing Sexual Violence Prosecutions
    Country
    Cambodia
    Keywords
    Acts of a Sexual Nature Coercion Consent Common Purpose Detention Centers Forced Marriage Severance of Charges Systematic Attack

    Reference link
    http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/indicted-person/khieu-samphan
    Type of mechanism
    Hybrid court
    Name of mechanism
    Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)
    Name of accused
    Khieu Samphan
    Charges
    Khieu Samphan was charged, in the closing order (indictment) of 15 September 2010, with: - Rape as a crime against humanity, which included forced marriage. - Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, which included forced marriage and rape. Both for committing (via a joint criminal enterprise), planning, instigating, ordering, or aiding and abetting, or by virtue of superior responsibility punishable under Article 29(new) of the ECCC Law.
    Trial chamber verdict
    However, the accused appealed the closing order stating that during the relevant time (1975-1979), rape was not yet applicable as an enumerated crime under crimes against humanity. The Pre-Trial Chamber agreed that during that time period rape was not a crime in its own, but ruled that the facts described as rape can be subsumed as ‘other inhumane acts’. Accordingly, on 13 January 2011, the Pre-Trial Chamber struck rape as a crime against humanity from the indictment. On 22 September 2011 the Trial Chamber severed Case 002 in two trials. The first trial of Case 002 was limited to forced transfers of the population. The second trial of Case 002 includes forced marriage and rape (nationwide) as crimes against humanity (under other inhumane acts), as decided per the Trial Chamber’s decision of 4 April 2014 (thus the charges were (geographically) expanded in the sense that forced marriage and rape were now charged nationwide, which was not the case before). Trial hearings in Case 002/02 commenced on 17 October 2014 and the presentation of evidence started on 8 January 2015. On 16 November 2018, the Trial Chamber of the court announced its judgment convicting former Khmer Rouge senior leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea and of genocide, crimes against humanity (including the specific crime of other inhumane acts through conduct characterised as forced marriage and rape in the context of forced marriage), and grave breaches of the Geneva Convention. In the judgment the Chamber found that “there existed a nationwide policy to regulate family-building and marriage, which was implemented by Party cadres at all administrative and military levels. The CPK designed this policy, replacing the role of parents in the selection of a suitable spouse, forcing couples to marry and forcing the production of children, for the purpose of increasing the country’s population within 10 to 15 years”.
    sentencing
    The Trial Chamber sentenced the accused, Khieu Samphan to life imprisonment. Taking into consideration the already imposed life sentence on Samphan in Case 002/01, the Chamber merged the two sentences into a single term of life imprisonment.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    Case 002

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ECCC - Nuon Chea (“Nuon Chea et al.”)

    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution Procedural Rules Advancing Sexual Violence Prosecutions
    Country
    Cambodia
    Keywords
    Acts of a Sexual Nature Coercion Consent Detention Centers Forced Marriage Common Purpose Severance of Charges Systematic Attack

    Reference link
    https://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/indicted-person/nuon-chea
    Type of mechanism
    Hybrid court
    Name of mechanism
    Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)
    Name of accused
    Nuon Chea
    Charges
    Nuon Chea was charged, in the closing order (indictment) of 15 September 2010, with: - Rape as a crime against humanity, which included forced marriage. - Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, which included forced marriage and rape. Both for committing (via a joint criminal enterprise), planning, instigating, ordering, or aiding and abetting, or by virtue of superior responsibility punishable under Article 29(new) of the ECCC Law.
    Trial chamber verdict
    However, the accused appealed the closing order stating that during the relevant time (1975-1979), rape was not yet applicable as an enumerated crime under crimes against humanity. The Pre-Trial Chamber agreed that during that time period rape was not a crime in its own, but ruled that the facts described as rape can be subsumed as ‘other inhumane acts’. Accordingly, on 13 January 2011, the Pre-Trial Chamber struck rape as a crime against humanity from the indictment. On 22 September 2011 the Trial Chamber severed Case 002 in two trials. The first trial of Case 002 was limited to forced transfers of the population. The second trial of Case 002 includes forced marriage and rape (nationwide) as crimes against humanity (under other inhumane acts), as decided per the Trial Chamber’s decision of 4 April 2014 (thus the charges were (geographically) expanded in the sense that forced marriage and rape were now charged nationwide, which was not the case before). Trial hearings in Case 002/02 commenced on 17 October 2014 and the presentation of evidence started on 8 January 2015. On 16 November 2018, the Trial Chamber announced its judgment convicting former Khmer Rouge senior leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea and of genocide, crimes against humanity (including the specific crime of other inhumane acts through conduct characterised as forced marriage and rape in the context of forced marriage), and grave breaches of the Geneva Convention. In the judgment the Chamber found that “there existed a nationwide policy to regulate family-building and marriage, which was implemented by Party cadres at all administrative and military levels. The CPK designed this policy, replacing the role of parents in the selection of a suitable spouse, forcing couples to marry and forcing the production of children, for the purpose of increasing the country’s population within 10 to 15 years”.
    sentencing
    The Trial Chamber sentenced Nuon Chea to life imprisonment. Taking into consideration the already imposed life sentence on Nuon Chea in Case 002/01, the Chamber merged the two sentences into a single term of life imprisonment.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    Case 002

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICC - Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta

    Year
    2015
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Sexual Violence against Men Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution Evidentiary Rules Regarding Sexual Violence Prosecutions
    Country
    Kenya
    Keywords
    Acts of a Sexual Nature Genitalia Withdrawal of Charges Penile Amputation

    Reference link
    https://www.icc-cpi.int/kenya/kenyatta
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Court
    Name of accused
    Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
    Charges
    Kenyatta was charged, in the context of the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya, with: - Rape and other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity under Article 25(3)(a) or (d) (“From on or about 27 December 2007 to 29 February 2008, Muthaura, Kenyatta and Ali, as co-perpetrators, or in the alternative, as part of a group of persons acting with a common purpose, committed or contributed to the commission of crimes against humanity, namely rape and other forms of sexual violence against civilian supporters of the Orange Democratic Movement political party in or around locations including Kibera (Kibera Division, Nairobi Province), Nakuru town (Nakuru District, Rift Valley Province) and Naivasha town (Naivasha District, Rift Valley Province), Republic of Kenya, in violation of Articles 7(l)(g) and 25(3)(a) or (d) of the Rome Statute.”).
    Trial chamber verdict
    In the Decision on the Confirmation of the Charges of 23 January 2012, the Chamber decided to remain the charge of rape as a crime against humanity, but to replace the charge of other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity (Article 7(1)(g) with causing severe/serious physical injuries which constitutes other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity (Article 7(1)(k)). (“Turning to the legal characterization of these acts, the Chamber recalls that it is essential for qualification of a certain act as other forms of sexual violence pursuant to article 7(l)(g) of the Statute that the act in question be of a sexual nature. The Chamber notes that at the confirmation of charges hearing, the Prosecutor submitted ‘that these weren’t just attacks on men’s sexual organs as such but were intended as attacks on men’s identities as men within their society and were designed to destroy their masculinity’. The Chamber is of the view that not every act of violence which targets parts of the body commonly associated with sexuality should be considered an act of sexual violence. In this respect, the Chamber considers that the determination of whether an act is of a sexual nature is inherently a question of fact. The Chamber finds that the evidence placed before it does not establish the sexual nature of the acts of forcible circumcision and penile amputation visited upon Luo men. Instead, it appears from the evidence that the acts were motivated by ethnic prejudice and intended to demonstrate cultural superiority of one tribe over the other. Therefore, the Chamber concludes that the acts under consideration do not qualify as other forms of sexual violence within the meaning of article 7(l)(g) of the Statute. However, as explained in the following section, the Chamber considers them as part of the Prosecutor’s allegation of acts causing severe physical injuries and will address them accordingly.” (paras. 264-266)) On 5 December 2014, the Prosecutor filed a notice to withdraw charges against Kenyatta (due to the status of the evidence available). On 13 March 2015, Trial Chamber V(B), noting the Prosecution’s withdrawal of charges against Kenyatta, decided to terminate the proceedings in this case and to vacate the summons to appear against him. The Prosecution held that the case can be re-opened, or brought in a different form, if new evidence establishing the crimes and his responsibility for them is discovered. Trial terminated.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICC-01/09-02/11

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    USA Court Martial - Lynndie R. England

    Year
    2005
    Issues
    Sexual Violence against Men Female Perpetrators of Sexual Violence
    Country
    United States of America
    Keywords
    Acts of a Sexual Nature Forced Nudity Humiliating and Degrading Treatment Prisoners of War

    Reference link
    https://trialinternational.org/latest-post/lynndie-r-england/
    Type of mechanism
    US courts-martial
    Name of mechanism
    USA Court Martial
    Name of accused
    Lynndie R. England
    Charges
    England was charged with seven counts of conspiracy, maltreatment and committing an indecent act of Iraqi prisoners, including an episode when she was photographed holding a strap tied as a leash around a naked detainee’s neck.
    Trial chamber verdict
    On 26 September 2005, England was found guilty of six out of seven counts of conspiracy, maltreatment and committing an indecent act. [Two others, including Private England’s former boyfriend Private Charles A. Graner Jr., who previously held the ranks of specialist and corporal, were convicted in trials, and the other six reached plea deals. Graner said that, at the time, he told officers about detainee maltreatment, which he claimed was done by order of military intelligence personnel. And at times, he said, military intelligence officers actually were present for the abuse.]
    sentencing
    England was sentenced to three years for her crimes and given a dishonorable discharge.
    Status
    2715

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