Conflict-related sexual violence is a war crime

Conflict-related sexual violence is a war crime Statement by Women’s Information and Consultative Center (Ukraine) November 2022

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Author: The Women‘s Information Consultative Center. Anastasiya Nenka, Director. Olena Suslova, Founder wicc.net.ua Project coordinator: ©Nacionalinė nevyriausybinių vystomojo bendradarbiavimo organizacijų platforma / Lithuanian NGDO Platform Contact: Justina Kaluinaitė, justina@vbplatforma.org Cover photo: Pawelc Czerwinski / Unsplash.com

This publication is part of the project VBirNVO3 funded by the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labour.

The publication and its contents are the author‘s sole responsibility and do not necessarily reflect the donor‘s views.

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With the beginning of the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, our Women’s Information and Consultative Center (WICC) began preparing to work with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We already had experience in this area, since we were the first to start collecting data on these crimes in the Donetsk region in 2015, after the temporary Russian occupation of the cities of Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Druzhkivka. In 2022 the first reported cases did not take long to appear, as the occupiers began to come into direct contact with the Ukrainian population, and the issue became publicly known after the liberation of Kyiv, Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) takes many forms and is not limited to rape. It may include sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, forced sterilization, forced marriage, as well as other forms of sexual violence of comparable severity committed against women, men, girls or boys who are directly or indirectly involved in the conflict. In particular, it can be forced undressing, imitation of sexual intercourse, forced observation of sexual violence, full or partial castration, threats, intimidation, extortion and other forms of coercion. These crimes are mostly hidden because their victims are often ashamed to talk about it. The physical and moral pain inflicted on them is also a barrier to reveal these experiences to the outside world, since every mention of them brings back mental and emotional suffering.

For these reasons, working with survivors of CRSV requires careful and sensible preparation.

Contact with survivors of CRSV may take place not only during the implementation of stabilization measures, operational searches and investigative actions in territories liberated from occupiers, but also at any given time when they meet with employees of social services and other state institutions, or any other persons.

That is why we believe that all the people in Ukraine, as well as in countries that have hospitably sheltered Ukrainians seeking asylum around the world, should be familiar with the principles of treatment of victims of CRSV. To carry out such training, we developed an algorithm for those who have become aware of cases of CRSV. This algorithm is based on general approaches to the treatment of survivors of any type of violence, taking into account the specifics of this particular case as well as recommendations of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict1, the Guidance Note of the Secretary-General: Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence2, and the Global Code of Conduct for Persons Collecting and Using Information on Systematic Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (Murad Code)3. Additionally, this algorithm is based on our own experiences working with survivors of CRSV throughout the months from April 2022 until this day.

There are several important characteristics and approaches that should be taken into account when communicating with survivors. First of all, we pay close attention to respect and confidentiality, inclusiveness and non-discrimination, sensitivity to trauma, adaptability, being realistic, responsibility, understanding of the context, and risks involved. We also pay close attention to the secondary or vicarious trauma, i. e. trauma experienced by people who work with victims of violence and often emotionally take on a share of their pain.

Do we know for sure that a person has experienced CRSV or do we only assume it? Firstly, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/598335/International_ Protocol_2017_2nd_Edition.pdf 2 https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/814902?ln=en 3 https://www.muradcode.com/murad-code 1

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it is very important to give the person time and space to calm down and begin to trust us.

The next step is – provided there is knowledge of how to do it properly and without causing further suffering – to help her or him regain control over themselves, their body, their life, and start taking their own steps to overcome the trauma. There are cases when people, out of good intentions, try to force an injured person to testify to law enforcement agencies, undergo a medical examination, or tell their story to the media. In such situations, one should follow the rule: “If you don’t know how to do it, then don’t do it.” Unfortunately, in Ukraine we have repeatedly witnessed how foreign media do not follow this rule or even basic journalistic ethics.

For them, getting an interview with survivors of CRSV at any cost has unfortunately become a kind of “guiding principle”.

Another often repeated mistake is following the so-called “recommendations for CRSV prevention” that are circulated on the Internet. For example, they may advise, “If you smear something smelly on your face, your attackers will think that you are sick and they will not rape you” or “Pretend that you are mentally ill, then they will not touch you”. This is a dangerous misconception that is very unlikely to help, and in some cases can even do harm. The variety of forms of violence, torture, and abuse is extensive and that only shows that those who commit violent acts will not be stopped by such doubtful measures.

It is important to remember that very often survivors of sexual and other forms of violence receive help from people whom they already trust, such as a doctor or a psychologist. Among the survivors our organization works to help are people we have never met, and in such cases our efforts reach them indirectly through other organizations or individuals.

Countries affected by internal or international conflicts usually turn to the topic of CRSV years after the fighting ends or media attention is turned elsewhere. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has been actively building a mechanism for protection, support, and justice for the survivors, but we are well aware that this problem cannot be solved quickly.

We appeal to everyone to be attentive to people around us. For people who suffered from CRSV and left the country where the violence took place, it may be easier to deal with it in some ways and more difficult in others. On the one hand, the probability that someone will find out about their painful experiences is lesser, for the perpetrators are far away. But on the other hand it is more difficult to seek and receive the help needed.

Our organization works to provide the necessary support for survivors of CRSV or assist them in finding the help they need. If you know someone who requires such help or would benefit from it, please direct them to us and we will do our best to assist them.

For inquiries and questions, our email address is: info@wicc.net.ua You can also call us at +38 098 693-02-20.

If you know such women, we would be grateful if you could pass on our message and contact details to them.

If you know where they can read this appeal, please send it there.

Sexual violence is a weapon of war. Its victims are wounded heroines and heroes.

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