Sexual Crimes in Conflict Database

A collection of relevant literature and case law

Showing 1 to 10 of 25 results.

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ECHR - Aydin v. Turkey

    Year
    1997
    Issues
    Sentencing and Reparations Evidentiary Rules Regarding Sexual Violence Prosecutions
    Country
    Turkey
    Keywords
    Forced Nudity Medical Forensic Exam/Rape Kit Vulnerability Psychological Impact Rape/Sexual Violence in Detention Right to an Effective Remedy

    Reference link
    http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=002-6215#{%22itemid%22:[%22002-6215%22]}
    Type of mechanism
    Regional court
    Name of mechanism
    European Court of Human Rights
    Name of accused
    Aydin v. Turkey
    sentencing
    In view of the extremely serious violation of the Convention and the consequent enduring psychological harm suffered by the applicant on account of the rape the Court awarded the applicant £25,000.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    23178/94

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICC - Germain Katanga

    Year
    2014
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Modes of Liability Sentencing and Reparations Procedural Rules Advancing Sexual Violence Prosecutions
    Country
    Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
    Keywords
    Acquittal Common Purpose Forced Marriage Forced Nudity Definition of Rape Withdrawal of Charges Severance of Charges

    Reference link
    https://www.icc-cpi.int/drc/katanga
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Court
    Name of accused
    Germain Katanga
    Charges
    Initially, Katanga was charged (together with Chui) with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including sexual slavery, committed on 24 February 2003 during the attack on the village of Bogoro, in the Ituri district of the DRC. Although subsequent events resulted in withdrawal of the sexual slavery counts as evidence from two victims/witnesses of sexual violence substantiating these counts was excluded by the Court because of security concerns, a change in their security situation made it possible for the Prosecutor to reinstate the sexual slavery as a crime against humanity and a war crime counts and add charges of rape as a crime against humanity and a war crime as well as outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime on 12 June 2008 (Prosecution’s Submission, 12 June 2008). According to the amended document containing the charges, in its section elaborating on ‘sexual offences’ (Prosecution’s Amended Document, 12 June 2008, para. 89): “women, who were captured at Bogoro and spared because they hid their ethnicity, were raped, sexually enslaved or humiliated. Threatened with death by the combatants, one woman was stripped and forced to parade half naked in front of them. Others were raped and forcibly taken to military camps. Once there, they were sometimes given as a ‘wife’ to their captors or kept in the camp’s prison, which was a hole dug in the ground. The women detained in these prisons were repeatedly raped by soldiers and commanders alike and also by soldiers who were punished and sent to prison. The fate reserved to captured women was widely known. Shortly after the Bogoro attack, KATANGA saw one of the imprisoned women detained in such conditions in one of the FRPI camps.” On 30 September 2008, the Chamber confirmed the charges against Katanga (and Chui) for rape and sexual slavery as crimes against humanity and war crimes under Article 25(3)(d), but declined to confirm the charge of outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime as, the Chamber held, the link to the suspect was lacking (Decision on the Confirmation of Charges, 30 September 2008). On 21 November 2012, the Court severed the charges against Katanga and Chui.
    Trial chamber verdict
    The Judgement against Katanga was pronounced on 7 March 2014 and although he was convicted for several other crimes against humanity and war crimes under Article 25(3)(d), he was acquitted for the sexual violence charges. The Chamber unanimously found Katanga not guilty of contributing to the acts of sexual violence as they did not believe these crimes formed part of the common purpose of the attack, unlike the crimes of directing an attack against a civilian population, pillage, murder and destruction of property as war crimes/crimes against humanity.
    sentencing
    A total sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment was given on 23 May 2014 (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    On 13 November 2015, a Panel of three Judges of the Appeals Chamber, specifically appointed by the Appeals Chamber, reviewed Katanga’s sentence and decided to reduce it. Accordingly, the date for the completion of his sentence was set to 18 January 2016. Decisions on possible victim reparations, which might have an impact on victims of sexual violence, will be rendered later.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICC-01/04-01/07

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICC - Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui

    Year
    2015
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Evidentiary Rules Regarding Sexual Violence Prosecutions Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution
    Country
    Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
    Keywords
    Acquittal Insufficient Evidence Forced Marriage Forced Nudity Severance of Charges Withdrawal of Charges

    Reference link
    https://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/situations%20and%20cases/situations/situation%20icc%200104/related%20cases/ICC-01-04-02-12/Pages/default.aspx
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Court
    Name of accused
    Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui
    Charges
    Initially, Chui was charged (together with Katanga) with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including sexual slavery, committed on 24 February 2003 during the attack on the village of Bogoro, in the Ituri district of the DRC. Although subsequent events resulted in withdrawal of the sexual slavery counts as evidence from two victims/witnesses of sexual violence substantiating these counts was excluded by the Court because of security concerns, a change in their security situation made it possible for the Prosecutor to reinstate the sexual slavery as a crime against humanity and a war crime counts and add charges of rape as a crime against humanity and a war crime as well as outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime on 12 June 2008 (Prosecution’s Submission, 12 June 2008). According to the amended document containing the charges, in its section elaborating on ‘sexual offences’ (Prosecution's Amended Document, 12 June 2008, para. 89): “women, who were captured at Bogoro and spared because they hid their ethnicity, were raped, sexually enslaved or humiliated. Threatened with death by the combatants, one woman was stripped and forced to parade half naked in front of them. Others were raped and forcibly taken to military camps. Once there, they were sometimes given as a ‘wife’ to their captors or kept in the camp’s prison, which was a hole dug in the ground. The women detained in these prisons were repeatedly raped by soldiers and commanders alike and also by soldiers who were punished and sent to prison. The fate reserved to captured women was widely known. Shortly after the Bogoro attack, KATANGA saw one of the imprisoned women detained in such conditions in one of the FRPI camps.” On 30 September 2008, the Chamber confirmed the charges against Chui (and Katanga) for rape and sexual slavery as crimes against humanity and war crimes under Article 25(3)(a), but declined to confirm the charge of outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime as, the Chamber held, the link to the suspect was lacking (Decision on the Confirmation of Charges, 30 September 2008). On 21 November 2012, the Court severed the charges against Katanga and Chui.
    Trial chamber verdict
    On 18 December 2012, Trial Chamber II acquitted Chui of the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It was found not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Chui was the commander of the Lendu combatants during the attack on Bogoro in Ituri, Eastern DRC on 24 February 2003, as charged by the ICC. Rather, the evidence supported the finding that he held the role of a commander in March 2003, after the February attack on Bogoro.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    On 21 December 2012, Chui was released from custody. On 27 February 2015, the Appeals Chamber confirmed, by majority, Trial Chamber II’s decision of 18 December 2012 acquitting Chui.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICC-01/04-02/12

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICC - Ukraine

    Reference link
    http://www.icc-cpi.int/ukraine
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Court
    Status
    2778

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Arsène Shalom Ntahobali (Nyiramasuhuko et al. "Butare")

    Year
    2015
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Procedural Rules Advancing Sexual Violence Prosecutions Sentencing and Reparations
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Forced Nudity Undue Delay Fair Trial Aiding and Abetting Ordering/Instigating Direct Commission Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    http://www.unictr.org/en/cases/ictr-98-42
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Arsène Shalom Ntahobali
    Charges
    - Rape as a crime against humanity and outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) for: (i) raping a Tutsi girl at the roadblock near his hotel (committing); (ii) raping Tutsi women (committing), ordering Interahamwe to rape Tutsi women (ordering), and aiding and abetting the rapes of Tutsi women at the Butare prefecture office (aiding and abetting). - Sexual violence as genocide, persecution as a crime against humanity and violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime, and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity under Articles 6(1) (direct responsibility) and 6(3) (command responsibility) due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes. - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity under Articles 6(1) (direct responsibility) and 6(3) (command responsibility) due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes and that it adduced insufficient evidence to prove that Ntahobali forced his victims to undress completely before forcing them into vehicles and taking them to their deaths.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Ntahobali was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 24 June 2011 of: - Rape as a crime against humanity and - Outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime Ntahobali was found not guilty of: - Sexual violence as genocide; - Persecution as a crime against humanity; - Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime; - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes. - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes and that it adduced insufficient evidence to prove that Ntahobali forced his victims to undress completely before forcing them into vehicles and taking them to their deaths.
    sentencing
    Ntahobali’s sentence was reduced to 47 years’ imprisonment, in particular due to a violation of the accused’s right to be tried without undue delay.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    On 14 December 2015, the Appeals Chamber upheld most of the findings in respect of the sexual violence conviction ((i) killing a Tutsi girl he had first raped at the Hotel Ihuliro roadblock in late April 1994; (ii) raping a Tutsi girl near the Hotel Ihuliro roadblock in late April 1994 as well as Witness TA during two attacks in May 1994 at the prefectural office; (iii) ordering the rape of Witness TA at the prefectural office during an attack in the last of half of May 1994; and (iv) aiding and abetting the rapes of Witness TA at the prefectural office in June 1994), except - having found errors in the Trial Chamber’s reasoning – for (i) raping Tutsi women, other than Witness TA, at the Butare Prefecture Office; and (ii) ordering the rapes of six Tutsi women, other than Witness TA, at the Butare Prefecture Office during an attack in the last half of May 1994. Ntahobali’s sentence was reduced to 47 years’ imprisonment, in particular due to a violation of the accused’s right to be tried without undue delay.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-98-42

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Jean-Paul Akayesu

    Year
    2001
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Forced Nudity Aiding and Abetting Ordering/Instigating Sexual Violence as Genocide Rape as Crime Against Humanity Akayesu

    Reference link
    http://unictr.unmict.org/en/cases/ictr-96-4
    Full reference
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Paul Akayesu, Judgment, 1 June 2001, ICTR-96-4.
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Jean-Paul Akayesu
    Charges
    - Rape as a crime against humanity under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) for: i) the rape of Witness JJ by an Interahamwe (aiding and abetting); (ii) multiple acts of rape of fifteen girls and women by numerous Interahamwe (aiding and abetting); (iii) multiple acts of rape of ten girls and women by numerous Interahamwe (ordering, instigating and aiding and abetting); (iv) the rape of Witness OO by an Interahamwe named Antoine (ordering, instigating and aiding and abetting); (v) the rape of a woman by Interahamwe (aiding and abetting); (vi) the rape of the younger sister of Witness NN by an Interahamwe (aiding and abetting); (vii) the multiple rapes of Alexia, wife of Ntereye, and her two nieces Louise and Nishimwe by Interahamwe (aiding and abetting); - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) for: (i) the forced undressing of the wife of Tharcisse (aiding and abetting); (ii) the forced undressing and naked public marching of Chantal (ordering, instigating and aiding and abetting); and (iii) the forced undressing of Alexia, wife of Ntereye, and her two nieces Louise and Nishimwe and to have them perform exercises naked in public (aiding and abetting). - Causing serious bodily or mental harm as genocide under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) for all of the above mentioned sexual violence acts (aiding and abetting). - Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular rape, degrading and humiliating treatment and indecent assault, as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime
    Trial chamber verdict
    Akayesu was found guilty by the Trial Chamber (on 2 September 1998) for a number of sexual violence crimes that took place in and around the Taba bureau communal: - Rape as a crime against humanity - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity - Causing serious bodily or mental harm as genocide Akayesu was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber of: - Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular rape, degrading and humiliating treatment and indecent assault, as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime as the Trial Chamber found that it was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the acts perpetrated by Akayesu were committed in conjunction with the armed conflict.
    sentencing
    Akayesu received a single sentence of life imprisonment (for genocide he had received a sentence of life imprisonment; for rape as a crime against humanity 15 years’ imprisonment; and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity 10 years’ imprisonment).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The sexual violence convictions by the Trial Chamber were upheld by the Appeals Chamber (on 1 June 2001).
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-96-4

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Pauline Nyiramasuhuko (Nyiramasuhuko et al."Butare")

    Year
    2015
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Female Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Procedural Rules Advancing Sexual Violence Prosecutions Sentencing and Reparations
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Forced Nudity Insufficient Evidence Superior Responsibility Fair Trial Undue Delay

    Reference link
    http://unictr.unmict.org/en/cases/ictr-98-42
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Pauline Nyiramasuhuko
    Charges
    - Rape as a crime against humanity.-Outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime under Article 6(3) (command responsibility) for ordering Interahamwe under her effective control to rape Tutsi women at the Butare prefecture office.- Sexual violence as genocide -Persecution as a crime against humanity -Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime -Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity under Articles 6(1) (direct responsibility) and 6(3) (command responsibility).
    Trial chamber verdict
    Nyiramasuhuko was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 24 June 2011 of: - Rape as a crime against humanity and outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime. Nyiramasuhuko was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber of:- Sexual violence as genocide, persecution as a crime against humanity and violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime, and other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes. - Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity due to insufficient notice of the Prosecutor’s intention to pursue these sexual violence crimes and that it adduced insufficient evidence to prove that Nyiramasuhuko forced her victims to undress completely before forcing them into vehicles and taking them to their deaths.
    sentencing
    Nyiramasuhuko received a sentence of life imprisonment. However, her sentence was reduced to 47 years’ imprisonment, in particular due to a violation of the accused’s right to be tried without undue delay.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    On 14 December 2015, the Appeals Chamber upheld the findings in respect of the sexual violence conviction (see above). Her sentence was reduced to 47 years’ imprisonment, in particular due to a violation of the accused’s right to be tried without undue delay.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-98-42

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR transfer - Aloys Ndimbati

    Issues
    Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Accused at large Interahamwe Forced Nudity Sexual Mutilation Killings

    Reference link
    http://www.unmict.org/en/cases/mict-12-14
    Type of mechanism
    Domestic court
    Name of accused
    Aloys Ndimbati
    Charges
    Ndimbati is charged with sexual violence crimes (on the basis of the second amended indictment of 8 May 2012) as follows: - Genocide under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) (JCE I) and 6(3) (command responsibility). - Complicity in genocide under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) (JCE I). - Rape as a crime against humanity under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) (JCE I) and 6(3) (command responsibility). - Persecution as a crime against humanity under Article 6(1) (direct responsibility) (JCE I) and 6(3) (command responsibility). The underlying facts that relate to the sexual violence for all these charges concern the: (i) instruction and prompting by Ndimbati (and Musema) of Interahamwe, who were among the Gisovu tea factory workers, to rape and kill a Tutsi woman by the name Annociata Mujawayezu and her son. As Annonciata’s son cried, he instructed the same Interahamwe to cut off Annociata’s breast and give it to her son in order to make him stop crying. Therafter she was raped and then killed, together with her son; (ii) taking aside of Adele Nyiramayombo near a road going to the Bisesero hills and telling her to undress. When Adele Nyiramayombo resisted, he slapped her and threatened to kill her. She finally gave up and undressed herself. Ndimbati then raped her for about 15 minutes in the presence of the Interahamwe in an open place. Meanwhile Alfred Musema raped Dancile Mukangemanyi not far from Ndimbati. After raping the women, they instructed and prompted the Twa Interahamwe to take Adele Nyiramayombo, Dancile Mukangemanyi and Azarias Munyampama away and kill them. They left with the third woman, Gaudance Mukankundiye, saying that they would rape her later. Adele Nyiramayombo and Dancile Mukangemunyi were then killed by the Twa Interahamwe as instructed and prompted by Ndimbati and Musema. Azarias Munyampama survived.
    Status
    2778
    Case number
    MICT-12-14

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Anto Furundžija (“Lašva Valley”)

    Year
    2000
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Akayesu Penetration Coercion Forced Nudity Rape/Sexual Violence in Detention Aiding and Abetting Co-perpetration

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/684/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Anto Furundžija
    Charges
    - Torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) (co-perpetration) - Outrages upon personal dignity (including rape) as a violation of the laws or customs of war under Article 7(1) (aiding and abetting) for interrogating Witness A, who was naked, while Accused B rubbed his knife on Witness A’s inner thighs and threatened to cut out her private parts if she did not tell the truth in answer to the interrogation by Furundžija. Accused B then repeatedly raped Witness A in front of an audience of soldiers.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Furundžija was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 10 December 1998 of: - Torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime - Outrages upon personal dignity (including rape) as a violation of the laws or customs of war. Although Furundžija did not rape Witness A himself, the Trial Chamber found that his presence and continued interrogation of Witness A aided and abetted the crimes committed by Accused B.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The Appeals Chamber on 21 July 2000 affirmed the convictions made by the Trial Chamber.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    IT-95-17/1

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Blagoje Simic ("Simic et al.")

    Year
    2006
    Issues
    Sexual Violence against Men
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Acquittal Forced Oral Sex Forced Nudity Rape with Foreign Objects Urination

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/779/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Blagoje Simic (“Simic et al.”)
    Charges
    Persecution as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1) (JCE I), which included sexual assaults of detainees (constituting beatings and torture) of Bosnian Croat, Bosnian Muslim and non-Serb civilians in the municipality of Bosanski Samac.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Simic was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 17 October 2003 of persecution as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1) (JCE I).
    sentencing
    Simic was sentenced by the Appeals Chamber to 15 years’ imprisonment on 28 November 2006 (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    Although Simic was initially found guilty by the Trial Chamber of persecution as a crime against humanity for the sexual violence crimes, this conviction was reversed by the Appeals Chamber on 28 November 2006, with Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen and Judge Wolfgang Schomburg dissenting.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    IT-95-9

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