Sexual Crimes in Conflict Database

A collection of relevant literature and case law

Showing 1 to 10 of 36 results.

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    DRC Military Operational Court – Sheka Case

    Country
    Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
    Keywords
    Mass Rape Sexual Slavery Sexual Violence against Girls Child Soldiers

    Reference link
    http://www.hrw.org/news/2018/11/29/dr-congo-mass-rape-trial-crucial-justice
    Type of mechanism
    Military Tribunal
    Name of accused
    Ntabo Ntaberi “Sheka”
    Charges
    Crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism
    Status
    2778

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICC - Al Hassan

    Reference link
    http://www.icc-cpi.int/mali/al-hassan
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Court
    Name of accused
    Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud
    Charges
    (1) Crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Mali, in the context of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, between April 2012 and January 2013, including rape and sexual slavery. (2) War crimes in the context of an armed conflict not of an international nature allegedly committed in Mali between April 2012 and January 2013, including rape and sexual slavery.
    Status
    2778
    Case number
    ICC-01/12-01/18

  • Jurisprudence non-judicial mechanisms

    International Commission of Inquiry on Guinea

    Country
    Guinea
    Keywords
    Rape Humiliating and Degrading Treatment Forced Nudity Sexual Slavery Killings

    Reference link
    www.legal-tools.org/en/browse/record/c5939f/
    Research focus
    Causality, Functionality and Logic of Conflict-related Sexual Violence
    Type of mechanism
    Commission of Inquiry
    Name of mechanism
    International Commission of Inquiry on Guinea
    Status
    2715
    Findings
    On 28 September 2009, the red berets and gendarmes surrounded the stadium, blocked the exits, stormed through the main gates, fired tear gas and set about killing or wounding the demonstrators or subjecting them to sexual assault. In under two hours, hundreds of civilians had died or been seriously wounded, stripped in public and subjected to widespread sexual abuse, being unable to flee as the exits from the stadium had been blocked. The authorities then began an organized attempt to cover up the crimes and, as a result, at least 89 persons have been reported missing, some are suffering from permanent injuries, while others will be afflicted with long-term physical and mental suffering. Among the many crimes the COI confirmed (e.g. killings), it also confirmed that at least 109 women were subjected to (gang) rape and other sexual violence, including sexual mutilation and sexual slavery. Several women died of their wounds following particularly cruel sexual attacks. Women were subjected to collective rape, often involving the use of objects, in public places, and all these acts were committed over a period of less than two hours, mainly in one place, in full view and with the full knowledge of all those who were present.
    Recommendations
    On 18 December 2009, the COI recommended, <i>inter alia</i>, that the Guinean Government should be strongly urged to provide the families concerned with all relevant information on the case of persons who have disappeared, that the International Criminal Court should be asked to investigate the persons alleged to have committed crimes against humanity, that adequate reparation should be made to the victims and that targeted sanctions should be imposed against the principal perpetrators of the violations.&nbsp; <b>The COI qualified the acts committed as: (1) violations of human rights and (2) violations of international criminal law.</b> As for the violations of human rights it held that the sexual slavery to which a number of women were subjected constitutes, <i>inter alia</i>, a <i>violation of the prohibition against holding anyone in slavery or servitude </i>(Article 8 of the ICCPR). The at least 109 women who were found subjected to sexual violence were held to be grave violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, i.e. <i>torture</i> (Article 1). These acts inflicted “severe pain or suffering” in order to punish the victims for an act which they had committed (participation in a demonstration prohibited by the Government) and to intimidate them, particularly to deter them from demonstrating against the authorities in the future. The persons responsible for these acts were soldiers, gendarmes, policemen and militiamen. The latter clearly acted “at the instigation of [a public official] or with the consent or acquiescence [of a public official]” since they were operating in conjunction with the security forces which were engaged in repression. Some of these acts, such as stripping women naked in public or certain less severe types of aggression, may be categorized as <i>cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment</i>, the COI stated. These acts of sexual violence were also considered <i>violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women</i>, since they were clearly directed against women as such. As for the violations of international criminal law, the COI held that it was established that <i>crimes against humanity</i> had been committed, <i>including rape, sexual slavery and sexual violence</i>. The COI referred to the Rome Statute for the prohibition of rape and other forms of sexual violence as a crime against humanity (Article 7(1)(g)).
    Date of report / release
    1909-12-18
    Reparations / awards
    <p style="text-align:justify; line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US">As for the reparations, specific mention was made of the victims of sexual violence. It was held that victims should receive, e.g.: </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify; line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US">(1) medical treatment and adequate care, in particular for the victims of sexual violence, who should be given treatment for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; and </span></p> <p style="text-align:justify; line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US">(2) psychological counselling, particularly for victims of gender-based violence, especially rape and sexual violence.</span></p>

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    The Women's International War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japan's Military Sexual Slavery, Japan – Comfort Women Case

    Country
    Japan
    Keywords
    Comfort Women Sexual Slavery Forced Prostitution Rape Sexual Violence against Girls Women Rights World War II

    Reference link
    http://www.asser.nl/upload/documents/DomCLIC/Docs/NLP/Japan/Comfort_Women_Judgement_04-12-2001_part_1.pdf
    Type of mechanism
    Military Tribunal
    Name of mechanism
    Women’s International Tribunal on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery
    Name of accused
    Emperor Hirohito Showa, Ando Rikichi, Hata Shunroku, Itagaki Seishiro, Kobayashi Seizo, Matsui Iwane, Umezu Yoshijiro, Terauchi Hisaichi, Tojo Hideki, Yamashita Tomoyuki, The Government of Japan
    Charges
    Participating, aiding and abetting of the Japanese army’s so called “comfort system”. This allegedly state-sanctioned system included mass sexual slavery and sexual violence/torture of hundreds of thousands of women and girls captured in occupied territories.
    Trial chamber verdict
    The Tribunal found that due to its widespread and organised structure, the “comfort system” was facilitating rape and sexual slavery of tens of thousands of girls and women and essentially qualified as state-sanctioned system of rape and enslavement. The Trial furthermore concluded that all elements of a crime against humanity had been fulfilled.The Tribunal found all nine high-ranking military and government officials, as well as Emperor Hirohito, guilty of rape and sexual slavery as crimes against humanity. Emperor Hirohito was also found guilty by way of his superior responsibility for mass rape committed at a Filipino village. The Tribunal furthermore found the Japanese government responsible for the harm inflicted by the “comfort system”.
    sentencing
    All accused were already dead by the time the trial was held.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    PT-2000-1-T
    Reparations / awards
    The Tribunal emphasised that while it has no power to enforce its judgment and consequently reparations and compensations, it does have moral authority, which should be enough to ensure enforcement by the national governments and the international community (paras. 1086-1088).

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    Batavia Military Tribunal - Case of 35 Dutch 'comfort women'

    Year
    1948
    Issues
    Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
    Country
    Indonesia
    Keywords
    World War II Semarang Comfort Women Incident Muntilan Comfort Women Incident Sexual Slavery

    Reference link
    http://www.awf.or.jp/pdf/0205.pdf
    Type of mechanism
    Military Tribunal
    Name of mechanism
    Batavia Military Tribunal
    Name of accused
    Army Major Okada (and 12 others)
    Charges
    Forcible seizure for rape and enforced prostitution.
    Trial chamber verdict
    The Judges convicted the Japanese officers on trial for ‘forced prostitution’ as a war crime. Prosecutors did not succeed in convicting anybody in relation to the Muntilan Comfort Women Incident, which ended in acquittal.
    sentencing
    Of the 13 individuals accused in relation to the Semarang Comfort Women Incident, the Batavia Military Tribunal on 14 February 1948, sentenced Army Major Okada to death. Eleven others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to twenty years.

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Milojica Kos (Kvocka et al. "Omarska, Keraterm & Trnopolje Camps")

    Year
    2001
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Sexual Slavery Forced Nudity Inhuman Treatment Akayesu Torture Forced Prostitution Joint Criminal Enterprise (JCE) Kunarac Rape

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/722/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Milojica Kos
    Charges
    - Persecution as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1) (JCE) for sexual assault and rape of Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbs detained in Omarska camp. - Inhumane acts as crimes against humanity and outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime for sexual assault and rape of Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbs detained in Omarska camp.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Kos was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 2 November 2001 of: - Persecution as a crime against humanity Kos was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber of: - Inhumane acts as crimes against humanity and outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime
    sentencing
    Kos was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment on 2 November 2001.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    No appeal in this case.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    IT-98-30/1

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Dragoljub Kunarac (Kunarac et al. "Foca")

    Year
    2002
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Penetration Sexual Slavery Lack of Consent Aiding and Abetting Vagina Rape as Crime Against Humanity Kunarac

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/712/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Dragoljub Kunarac
    Charges
    - Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) (committing and aiding and abetting) for: (i) taking FWS-75 and D.B. to his headquarters at Ulica Osmana Ðikica no. 16, where he raped D.B. and aided and abetted the gang-rape of FWS-75 by several soldiers; (ii) taking FWS-87, FWS-75, FWS-50 and D.B. to his headquarters at Ulica Osmana Ðikica no. 16, where he raped FWS-87 and aided and abetted the torture and rapes of FWS-87, FWS-75 and FWS-50 by soldiers; (iii) transferring FWS-95 from Partizan Sports Hall to his headquarters at Ulica Osmana Ðikica no. 16, where he raped her; (iv) taking FWS-87 to a room on the upper floor of Karaman’s house in Miljevina, where he raped her; (v) threatening to kill FWS-183 and her son while he tried to obtain information or a confession from FWS-183 concerning her alleged sending of messages to the Muslim forces and information about the whereabouts of her valuables and for raping her on that occasion; and (vi) raping FWS-191 and aiding and abetting the rape of FWS-186 by soldiers in an abandoned house in Trnovace.- Enslavement as a crime against humanity under Article 7(1) (committing and aiding and abetting) for the enslavement of FWS-186 and FWS-191 for a period of six months in a house in Trnovace and for treating them as his property.- Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) for taking FWS-48 and two other women to the Hotel Zelengora where he raped FWS-48 and for taking FWS-48 and FWS-95 to a house in the Donje Polje neighborhood where he raped FWS-48.- Outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) for taking FWS-186, FWS-191 and J.G. from the house Ulica Osmana Ðikica no. 16 to the abandoned house of Halid Cedic in Trnovace, where they were raped, and for raping FWS-191 approximately 6 months and treating FWS-186 and FWS-191 as his personal property.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Kunarac was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 22 February 2001 of: - Torture as a crime against humanity - Rape as a crime against humanity - Torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime - Rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime - Enslavement as a crime against humanity Kunarac was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber of: - Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime for taking FWS-48 and two other women to the Hotel Zelengora where he raped FWS-48 and for taking FWS-48 and FWS-95 to a house in the Donje Polje neighborhood where he raped FWS-48. - Outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime
    sentencing
    Kunarac received a sentence of 28 years’ imprisonment on 12 June 2002.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The convictions by the Trial Chamber were upheld by the Appeals Chamber on 12 June 2002.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    IT-96-23 and IT-96-23/1

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Radomir Kovac (Kunarac et al. "Foca")

    Year
    2002
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Penetration Consent Sexual Slavery Aiding and Abetting

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/712/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Radomir Kovac
    Charges
    - Enslavement as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) (committing and aiding and abetting) for: (i) detaining FWS-75 and the 12-year-old girl A.B. in his apartment for about a week and FWS-87 and A.S. for about four months and for treating them as his property; (ii) raping FWS-75, FWS-87 and A.B. and for aiding and abetting the rapes of these women and of A.S. by allowing other soldiers to visit or stay in his apartment and to rape them or by encouraging the soldiers to do so, and by handing the girls over to other men with the knowledge that they would rape them: (iii) forcing FWS-87, A.S. and A.B. to strip and dance naked on a table while watching them; and (iv) selling A.B. for 200 Deutschmarks, FWS-87 and A.S. for 500 Deutschmarks each and for handing over FWS-75 to other men.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Kovac was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 22 February 2001 of: - Enslavement as a crime against humanity - Rape as a crime against humanity - Rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime - Outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime
    sentencing
    Kovac was given a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on 12 June 2002.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The convictions were upheld by the Appeals Chamber on 12 June 2002.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    IT-96-23 and IT-96-23/1

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTY - Zoran Vukovic (Kunarac et al. "Foca")

    Year
    2002
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes
    Country
    Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Consent Penetration Sexual Slavery Sexual Assault/Attack/Abuse Vagina

    Reference link
    http://www.icty.org/cases/party/712/4
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
    Name of accused
    Zoran Vukovic
    Charges
    - Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) (committing) for taking FWS-50, a 15-year-old girl, from Partizan Sport Hall to an apartment and raping her.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Vukovic was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 22 February 2001 of: - Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) (committing) for taking FWS-50, a 15-year-old girl, from Partizan Sport Hall to an apartment and raping her. Vukovic was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber of: - Torture as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, torture as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime and rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war as a war crime under Article 7(1) for raping FWS-75 and FWS-87 in a classroom in the Foca High School.
    sentencing
    Vukovic was given a sentence of 12 years' imprisonment on 12 June 2002.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The convictions were upheld by the Appeals Chamber on 12 June 2002.
    Status
    2715
    Findings
    Case number
    IT-96-23 and IT-96-23/1

  • Literature

    McHenry, James - The Prosecution of Rape under International Law...

    Year
    2002
    Issues
    Achievements and Challenges of Sexual Violence Prosecution
    Country
    Rwanda, Former Yugoslavia
    Keywords
    Sexual Slavery Prosecution Equality

    Reference link
    https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/vantl35&div=44&id=&page=
    Full reference
    McHenry, James, "The Prosecution of Rape under International Law: Justice That is Long Overdue", in Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 2002, vol. 35, pp. 1269-1311.
    Type of literature
    Journal Article
    Research focus
    Gaps in the Jurisprudence and Legislation on Conflict-related Sexual Violence crimes
    Author
    McHenry, James
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

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