Sexual Crimes in Conflict Database

A collection of relevant literature and case law

Showing 1 to 10 of 28 results.

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina (War Crimes Chamber) - Askraba Dordislav

    Country
    Bosnia Herzegovina
    Keywords
    Rape Sexual Violence Enforced Disappearance Rape Camps Torture Rape as a Weapon of War War Crimes Crimes Against Humanity

    Reference link
    http://www.sudbih.gov.ba/predmet/2463/show
    Type of mechanism
    Domestic court
    Name of mechanism
    Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina (War Crimes Chamber)
    Name of accused
    Ratko Bundalo, Nedo Zeljaja, Dordislav Askraba
    Charges
    Ratko Bundalo and Nedo Zeljaja were charged with the criminal offense of crimes against humanity in violation of Article 172 (1) (h) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CC BiH) in conjunction with the following items:a) depriving another person of his life (murder),b) extermination,d) deportation or forcible transfer of population,e) imprisonment,f) torture,g) sexual violence, andk) other inhumane acts,in conjunction with Article 173 (1) (c), (e) and (f) of the CC BiH, all in conjunction with Article 180 (1) of the CC BiH.Dordislav Askraba is charged with the criminal offense of crimes against humanity in violation of Article 172 (1) (h) of the CC BiH in conjunction with the following items:a) depriving another person of his life (murder),e) imprisonment,f) torture, andk) other inhumane actsin conjunction with Article 180 (1) of CC BiH.
    Trial chamber verdict
    On 21 December 2009, the Trial Panel reached the first-instance verdict finding the accused, Ratko Bundalo and Nedo Zeljaja guilty of crimes against humanity. The accused Ratko Bundalo was sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment, the accused Nedo Zeljaja was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, and the accused Dordislav Askraba was acquitted on all counts of the Indictment.
    sentencing
    The Trial Chamber sentenced Ratko Bundalo to 19 years of imprisonment and Nedo Zeljaja to 15 years of imprisonment. The Appeals Chamber found Dordislav Askraba guilty of war crimes and sentenced him to 7 years’ imprisonment.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    On 18 April 2012, the Panel of the Appellate pronounced the second instance verdict finding the accused Dordislav Askraba guilty of war crimes against civilians, committed in the manner described in the operative provision of the verdict, in violation of Article 142(1) of the Criminal Code of SFRY as adopted pursuant to the Law on Application of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Criminal Code of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, in conjunction with Articles 22 and 24 of the same Code. The verdict sentenced the accused to imprisonment of 7 years.Following new appeals by the of Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Defense Counsel for the Accused Dordislav Askraba, the Appeals Chamber upheld the second-instance verdict on 18 June 2013.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    S1 1 K 005159 11 Kzz

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Aloys Ntabakuze (Bagasora et al. “Military I”)

    Issues
    Modes of Liability
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Crimes Against Humanity Genocide Sexual Violence Tutsi War Crimes Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    Click here
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Aloys Ntabakuze
    Charges
    Ntabakuze had been charged with sexual violence crimes: i.e. conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, complicity in genocide, rape as a crime against humanity, persecution as a crime against humanity, other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, violence to health and to the physical or mental well-being of civilians as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime and outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape and indecent assault 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: (i) rapes, sexual assaults and other crimes of a sexual nature committed against Tutsi women and girls throughout Rwanda, including at the secondary nursing school in Kabgayi, in Gitarama prefecture;(ii) the sexual assault of Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana
    Trial chamber verdict
    Ntabakuze was found not guilty for the sexual violence crimes under these counts by the Trial Chamber (on 18 December 2008).
    sentencing
    Ntabakuze was given a sentence of 35 years’ imprisonment on 8 May 2012 (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The acquittal for the sexual violence was not appealed by the Prosecution.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-98-41

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Anatole Nsengiyumva (Bagasora et al. “Military I”)

    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Genocide Inhuman Treatment Tutsi War Crimes Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    Click here
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Anatole Nsengiyumva
    Charges
    Nsengiyumva had been charged with sexual violence crimes - i.e. conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide, complicity in genocide, rape as a crime against humanity, persecution as a crime against humanity, other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, violence to health and to the physical or mental well-being of civilians as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime and outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment, rape and indecent assault 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: (i) rapes, sexual assaults and other crimes of a sexual nature committed against Tutsi women and girls in various locations in Gisenyi, including at Nyundo parish.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Nsengiyumva was found not guilty for the sexual violence crimes under these counts by the Trial Chamber (on 18 December 2008).
    sentencing
    Nsengiyumva was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on 14 December 2011 (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The acquittal for the sexual violence was not appealed by the Prosecution.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-98-41

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Casimir Bizimungu (Bizimungu et al. “Government II”)

    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Crimes Against Humanity Genocide Prevention Tutsi War Crimes

    Reference link
    Click here
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Casimir Bizimungu
    Charges
    Bizimungu was charged with sexual violence as follows:Genocide or, alternatively, complicity in genocide and rape as a crime against humanity as well as outrages upon personal dignity as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as war crimes under Article 6(3) (command responsibility) for failing to prevent or to punish the rapes of Tutsi women and students committed by soldiers and Interahamwe at the secondary nursing school in Kabgayi in Gitarama prefecture.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Mid-trial, in 2005, Bizimungu was acquitted of the sexual violence charges due to a lack of evidence (See the Decision on Defense Motions Pursuant to Rule 98bis).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    Bizimungu was acquitted by the Trial Chamber on 30 September 2011 (on all counts).
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-99-50

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Francois-Xavier Nzuwonemeye (Ndindiliyimana et al. “Military II”)

    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Humiliating and Degrading Treatment War Crimes Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    http://unictr.unmict.org/en/cases/ictr-00-56
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Francois-Xavier Nzuwonemeye
    Charges
    Rape as a crime against humanity and rape, humiliating and degrading treatment as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as war crimes under Article 6(3) (command responsibility) for failing to prevent or to punish the rapes committed by soldiers from the A squad of the Reconnaissance battalion, led by Sagahutu and under the command of Major Nzuwonemeye in the kiosks at the entrance of the hospital of Kigali during April, May and June 1994
    Trial chamber verdict
    Nzuwonemeye was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber (on 17 May 2011) for the sexual violence charges.
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The Prosecution did not appeal the acquittals for sexual violence.The Appeals Chamber acquitted Nzuwonemeye on all counts on 11 February 2014.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-00-56

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Ildephonse Nizeyimana

    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Crimes Against Humanity Gang Rape Genocide Tutsi War Crimes

    Reference link
    http://unictr.unmict.org/en/cases/ictr-00-55c
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Ildephonse Nizeyimana
    Charges
    The charges concerned:Causing serious bodily or mental harm as genocide, rape as a crime against humanity and rape as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as a war crime under Articles 6(1) and 6(3) for: (i) ordering FAR soldiers, gendarmes and officers stationed at both Ngoma Camp and ESO to rape tutsi women and for the subsequent rapes (ordering); and for (ii) ordering or instigating soldiers from the FAR, ESO, Ngoma Camp, Butare Gendarmerie Camp and Interahamwe militia to rape Tutsi women at Butare Hospital, Butare University and at various locations in Butare prefecture, including the residence of Rosalie Gicanda, and for the subsequent rapes, including the multiple rapes and gang-rapes of MKA, ZBL, BUQ, BJW and DCO (ordering or instigating).
    Trial chamber verdict
    Although Nizeyimana was charged with sexual violence crimes, the Trial Chamber (on 19 June 2012) held that no factual allegations supporting Nizeyimana’s liability for these crimes had been proven. Therefore, the counts were dismissed.
    sentencing
    Nizeyimana was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment on 29 September 2014 (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The Prosecution partly appealed these findings on sexual violence. However, the Appeals Chamber found that the Prosecution had failed to show that the Trial Chamber erred in finding that the perpetrators of the rapes at Butare Hospital were not sufficiently identified as ESO soldiers and, therefore, that it could not hold Nizeyimana liable as a superior on this basis. For these reasons, the Appeals Chamber needed not to consider the Prosecution’s arguments on whether Nizeyimana failed to prevent or punish his subordinates for the rapes committed at Butare Hospital. Based on the foregoing, the Appeals Chamber dismissed the Prosecution’s ground of Appeal.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-00-55C

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Innocent Sagahutu (Ndindiliyimana et al. “Military II”)

    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes
    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Command Responsibility Humiliating and Degrading Treatment War Crimes Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    http://unictr.unmict.org/en/cases/ictr-00-56
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Innocent Sagahutu
    Charges
    Rape as a crime against humanity and rape, humiliating and degrading treatment as a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II as war crimes under Article 6(3) (command responsibility) for failing to prevent or to punish the rapes committed by soldiers from the A squad of the Reconnaissance battalion, led by Sagahutu and under the command of Major Nzuwonemeye in the kiosks at the entrance of the hospital of Kigali during April, May and June 1994.
    Trial chamber verdict
    Sagahutu was found not guilty by the Trial Chamber (on 17 May 2011)for the sexual violence charges.
    sentencing
    Sagahutu was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on 11 February 2014 by the Appeals Chamber (for other charges).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    The Prosecution did not appeal the acquittals for sexual violence.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-00-56

  • Jurisprudence judicial mechanism

    ICTR - Jerome Bicamumpaka (Bizimungu et al. “Government II”)

    Country
    Rwanda
    Keywords
    Acquittal Insufficient Evidence War Crimes Rape as Crime Against Humanity

    Reference link
    http://www.unictr.org/en/cases/ictr-99-50
    Type of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal/Court
    Name of mechanism
    International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
    Name of accused
    Jerome Bicamumpaka
    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 war crimes under Articles 6(1) and 6(3).
    Trial chamber verdict
    The charges were not substantiated with material facts related to the sexual violence.Mid-trial, in 2005, Bicamumpaka was acquitted of the sexual violence charges due to a lack of evidence (See the Decision on Defense Motions Pursuant to Rule 98bis).
    Appeals chamber verdict
    Bicamumpaka was acquitted by the Trial Chamber (on 30 September 2011) on all counts.
    Status
    2715
    Case number
    ICTR-99-50

  • Jurisprudence non-judicial mechanisms

    International Commission of Inquiry on Libya

    Country
    Libya
    Keywords
    War Crimes Attack against a Civilian Population Sexual Violence

    Reference link
    www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/OIOL.aspx
    Research focus
    Investigation, Prosecution and Prevention of Conflict related Sexual Violence
    Type of mechanism
    Commission of Inquiry
    Name of mechanism
    International Commission of Inquiry on Libya
    Status
    2715
    Findings
    On 15 June 2011 the Commission submitted a report to the Human Rights Council setting out its findings. The Council extended the mandate of the Commission in light of the extensive and on-going allegations of abuses. It requested the Commission to provide a second report at the Council’s nineteenth session in March, 2012. In its first report of 15 June 2011, the COI held with regard to sexual violence: “The commission received, but was unable to verify, individual accounts of rape. It notes, however, that sufficient information was received to justify further investigation to ascertain the extent of sexual violence, including whether cases were linked to incitement by the command of either side. It is evident that reports of rape have had a major psychological and social impact and have spread fear among the population. Given the allegations that rape was committed as part of a policy to spread such fear, further investigation would be warranted.” And: “The commission has found that there have been many serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by Government forces amounting to “war crimes”. (…) Further investigation would also be required in relation to whether children under 15 years of age were conscripted into or enlisted in armed forces or groups, or used them to participate actively in hostilities, as well as into allegations of rape during the conflict.” In conclusion on sexual violence, the COI said: “ The Commission received but was unable to verify individual accounts of rape. However, the Commission notes there was sufficient information received to justify further investigation to ascertain the extent of sexual violence including whether cases were linked to incitement by the command of either side. It is evident that the reports of the rapes have had a major psychological and social impact and have spread fear among the population. Given accounts that rape was committed as part of a policy to spread such fear, further investigation would be warranted.” And: “Sexual violence is an area which requires further investigation to ascertain the extent of these violations, including whether cases were linked to incitement by the command of either side. It is evident that reports of rape have had a major psychological and social impact, spreading fears amongst the population. Given the sensitive nature of the subject, the Commission considers it important that further investigation employ specifically tailored methodologies which take into account the stigmatization of sexual violence.” However, at one point, the COI stated: “the commission has found that there have been acts constituting murder, imprisonment, other forms of severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance and sexual abuse that were committed by Government forces as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population with knowledge of the attack. Such acts fall within the meaning of “crimes against humanity”.” On 8 March 2012, the COI found additional violations including unlawful killing, individual acts of torture and ill-treatment, attacks on civilians, and rape (committed by the Qadhafi forces). On sexual violence it held specifically: “The prevailing culture of silence, the lack of reliable statistics, the evident use of torture to extract confessions, and the political sensitivity of the issue combine to make this issue the most difficult one for the Commission to investigate. The Commission found that sexual violence occurred in Libya and played a significant role in provoking fear in various communities. The Commission established that sexual torture was used as a means to extract information from and to humiliate detainees. The Commission did not find evidence to substantiate claims of a widespread or a systematic attack, or any overall policy of sexual violence against a civilian population. The information received is, however, sufficient to justify further investigation to ascertain the extent of sexual violence.”
    Recommendations
    In its recommendations, the COI gave three specific recommendations that applied to victims of sexual violence: “(j) Establish appropriate gender-sensitive psychological, medical, legal and social support services throughout the country; recruit and train female investigators and encourage and support the establishment of civil society organizations to provide support to victims of sexual violence; (k) Establish public awareness campaigns through the media in support of victims of sexual violence; and (t) Establish programs for the training for all officials including judicial, police, military and prison officials in international human rights law, in particular specialized training for the handling of sexual violence cases.” For the rest of the recommendations, see the report.
    Date of report / release
    1912-03-08

  • Literature

    Aydelott, Danise - Mass Rape During War...

    Year
    1993
    Issues
    Definitions/Elements of Sexual Violence Crimes
    Country
    Bosnia Herzegovina
    Keywords
    Rape as a Weapon of War Mass Rape Genocide International Criminal Law War Crimes

    Reference link
    https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/emint7&div=24&id=&page=
    Full reference
    Aydelott, Danise, "Mass Rape During War: Prosecuting Bosnian Rapists Under International Law", in Emory International Law Review, 1993, vol. 7, pp. 585-631.
    Type of literature
    Journal Article
    Research focus
    Gaps in the Jurisprudence and Legislation on Conflict-related Sexual Violence crimes
    Author
    Aydelott, Danise

This is free software. Created with LinkAhead and Django. Licenced under AGPL version 3.0 (Sources).