Women's Human Rights Resources Database

This report identifies the disproportionate number of women living in poverty, and examines the ways in which that poverty compounds their risk of exposure to violence. Women are often faced with multiple forms of discrimination, which contributes to their risk of experiencing violence. Armed conflict is also identified as a source of violence against women, as women are deliberately targeted with strategies of sexual violence used to break down communities.

This interview with Mavic Cabrera-Balleza examines implications of increased military spending for women. Cabrera-Balleza concludes that greater militarism and conflict increase incidences of violence against women and other attacks on womens human rights, which become normalized in the context of the conflict. Cabrera-Balleza argues that recent world crises have led to increased visibility of violence against women and increased solidarity between global activists. Cabrera-Balleza examines the effect of neoliberalism on the increase in poverty, and concludes that it has diminished access to healthcare services and ultimately reinforced gender inequality. Recommendations are made for an increase in positive rights alternative development strategies and a reduction in military spending, as the jobs and benefits created through state military expenditure would be more beneficial if applied to poverty and environmental crisis.

This resource addresses the issue of how UNSCR 1325 (2000), which recognizes womens rights to protection from violence and to participation in all peace and security processes, has yet to be substantially realized. Women continue to be the victims of gender-based sexual violence in the context of conflict and its aftermath, while perpetrators of these crimes go unpunished and women continue to be institutionally underrepresented in developmental decision-making. This report presents a strategic focus outlining the commitments that must be made to the mobilization of domestic and international financial resources towards implementing UNSCR 1325s mandate. The use of international instruments as tools for conflict resolution and prevention demands strong collaboration and coordination among different actors. Implementing UNSCR 1325 will require national action plans systemically translating its resolutions into executable, measurable and accountable acts. Effective national action plans will reflect the realities of the country, and will allow for comprehensive and systemic implementation, monitoring, and evaluation by the government, womens groups, the security sector, and other stakeholders in the country.

This report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Systemic Rape, Sexual Slavery and Slave-like Practices During Armed Conflict focuses primarily on the development of international criminal law as a fruitful area for effective action at the national and international levels to end the cycle of impunity for slavery, including sexual slavery, and for sexual violence, including rape. This report also advances policy and practical recommendations that may guide the investigation, prosecution and prevention of sexual slavery and sexual violence in armed conflicts. Included in this report are sections on the definitions of crimes, the legal framework for prosecuting sexual slavery and sexual violence under international law, holding individuals responsible, the right to an effective remedy and the duty to compensate, prosecutions at the national level, and also an appendix on the legal liability of the Government of Japan for "comfort women stations" during World War II.

The "Genocide Convention" was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1948 and entered into force January 12, 1951. The Convention establishes a definition for the crime of genocide and attributes direct and individual criminal responsibility to those who participate in its commission. Latterly, acts that directly target women (such as mass rape in Rwanda and Bosnia) have been considered by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to consitute part of a genocidal policy. This requires the requisite intent (mens rea) and an attempt to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic racial or religious group.

This UN Policy report examines the impact of the 2022 war between Ukraine and Russia on women and girls. The report focuses chiefly on sexual violence against women, food insecurity and malnutrition, and energy poverty. The report shows that not has the war caused an increase in sexual violence, but that women’s food security and nutrition is disproportionately jeopardized. Additionally, the report shows that energy poverty has resulted in unequal impacts on gender equality and women’s rights by creating inequitable access to energy. After reviewing the available evidence, this report in combination with the UN Secretary-General’s publications on the war in Ukraine, recommends urgent attention to the consequences on women and girls. The report concludes by presenting further recommendations on essential measures to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Developmental Goals. 

This document outlines the steps taken by Canada to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. It is organized according to the thematic areas and operative paragraphs of Resolution 1325 and outlines the nature of the work carried out by the Government of Canada. Areas addressed include: the representation of women in decision-making; achieving a gender balance in peacekeeping and peace support operations; training on gender issues of military and civilian personnel; adopting a gender perspective when negotiating and implementing peace agreements; voluntary financial, technical and logistical support for gender-sensitive training; efforts to end impunity at the national/international levels; incorporation of gender perspectives in planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; any additional activities/actions undertaken by Canada to implement Resolution 1325; and, future challenges for advancing gender mainstreaming and the women, peace and security agenda. [Descriptors: Armed Conflict, Canada]

This report provides an overview of ways in which the US-led invasion into Iraq has impacted that countrys respect for human rights, focusing on the rights of women and girls, freedom of expression, the torture of detainees, and marginalized communities. The report reveals that, while progress has been made, Iraqs transition to a functioning and sustainable democracy is far from over. The first section of the report, which addresses the rights of women and girls, describes how the invasion into Iraq caused the deterioration of security in that country, which resulted in a rise in tribal customs and religiously-inflicted political extremism. The report describes that it is common for militias, insurgents, Iraqi security forces, and multinational forces to rape and kill women and girls. The report further notes that women and girls are not safe in their own homes either, as they are regularly physically punished and sometimes killed by their own fathers, brothers and husbands for actions that allegedly shame the family, and that they are unable to seek protection from the all-male police and other security forces as that would likely result in further harassment and abuse.

UTL

This study assesses the impact of armed conflict on the lives of women. It identifies the core needs of women during situations of armed conflict (such as physical safety, access to health care, adequate food and shelter) and explores the associated problems faced by women along with the coping mechanisms employed by women themselves and aid agencies/organizations. The study includes a thorough analysis of international humanitarian law and, to a lesser extent, human rights and refugee law, as a way of assessing the protection afforded to women through these bodies of law. Extracts and an executive summary of the study are available through the on-line version; the full study is only available for order through the ICRC Distribution Sector.

In 1998 the Organization of African Unity (OAU, now the African Union or AU) created this international panel and gave it the mandate "to investigate the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the surrounding events in the Great Lakes Region... as part of efforts aimed at averting and preventing further wide-scale conflicts in the Region." The panel's 24-chapter report was made public 7 July 2000. Chapter 1 discusses genocide in the 20th century. Chapters 2-8 describe and analyze the key events from the late 1800s to 1994 that lead to the Rwandan genocide. Chapters 9-13 discuss what was known in the world about the situation in Rwanda; what could have been done to prevent the genocide; and the role and responsibility of the OAU, France, the United States, and the UN. Chapters 14-15 describe what happened during the genocide. Chapter 16 discusses the plight of women and children. Chapters 17-23 discuss the consequences of the genocide and the situation in Rwanda today. In Chapter 24 the panel makes recommendations. Of particular relevance to women's rights is Chapter 16. This chapter discusses the role of women in rebuilding Rwanda, the gender inequalities that exist in this country, the violence that was committed against women during the genocide, and initiatives to address the needs and interests of Rwandan women.

This report, commissioned by UNIFEM (the Women's Fund at the United Nations) was the outcome of a mission carried out by two independent experts who traveled to conflict areas in order to interview women and bring their concerns to the attention of the UN and the world. The report is divided into 10 chapters and contains an executive summary (31 pages) as well as a summary of recommendations by chapter. The report covers many areas of concern from the gender dimension of violence and displacement during armed conflict, the impact of health and HIV/AIDS in times of conflict, to the role of the media and peacekeepers and the need for women to play a central part during peace negotiations and reconstruction.

This fact sheet traces the evolution of international humanitarian law (IHL). It outlines the present-day scope and meaning of IHL both for combatants and for civilians caught up in armed conflicts.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the involvement of children in armed conflict was adopted by the UN General Assembly on May 25, 2000 and entered into force on February 12, 2002. The protocol recognizes the heavy burden armed conflict places on children. In particular, it condemns the recruitment of children for combat and calls on states to take all steps possible to bring an end to the practice.

This bibliography is an update to the one produced by ICHRDD in May 1997 by Stephanie Grenier. It provides sources on the topic of women and conflict situations. It includes general documents as well as texts on topics such as women as participants, women as victims and women in the peace processes. The bibliography also includes some references to women as refugees. The updated bibliography covers the period from May 1997 to February 1999 and includes monographs, reports, articles and conference reports published by NGOs or international organizations in English, French and Spanish.It has been drawn mainly from the Documentation Centre of Canada's International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD). It focuses on Africa, Asia, Central and Latin America.

At the Rome Conference in July 1998, 160 nations voted to establish a permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) to try individuals for the most serious offences of global concern. The crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC include genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Statute entered into force on July 1, 2002. The ICC Statute is important because it explicitly provides for the prosecution of gender crimes such as rape and sexual violence under the umbrella of "crimes against humanity." WHRR Users may also be interested in the ICC website more generally which includes other documents about the ICC and the website of the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice that is available through the "links" division of the Women and Armed Conflict section.

This fact sheet notes that the Beijing Platform for Action identified the effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women, including those living under foreign occupation, as one of the twelve areas of critical concern. It then sets out the issue of women's involvement in the peace building process and the various effects of conflict on women along with some vital statistics from the Canadian immigration and refugee board. The fact sheet also outlines the steps that Canada has taken, and is taking, at the federal and international levels to promote women's involvement in peace building efforts and protect women in situations of armed conflict. [Descriptors: Armed Conflict, Canada]

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established by the Security Council to prosecute persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. The Tribunal functions in accordance with the provisions of this Statute, which outlines its competence, jurisdiction, composition, etc. The Rules of Procedure and Evidence that should be read alongside the Statute, are the detailed rules adopted by the judges for conducting the pre-trial phase of the proceedings, trials and appeals, the admission of evidence, the protection of victims and witnesses, and other matters.

The National Action Plan presents specific strategies to assist the United States government to enact policy regarding womens issues in the international community. Among the recommendations is for the U.S. to ensure more inclusive support in mediation and negotiation processes in resolving international conflicts, and seeks to achieve substantial womens participation in multilateral and bilateral post-conflict planning and programming. Concomitantly, this action plan recommends prioritizing the needs of women and girls in U.S.-funded emergency response and recovery programs, and to maintain zero tolerance and 100% accountability for sexual and gender based violence. The U.S. should also ensure that financial support for multilateral organizations is contingent on compliance with the provisions of UNSCR 1325, and to require U.S. government security and development contractors to demonstrate core competencies on UNSCR 1325 provisions in the contractors work, programs, and policies.

With the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in 2000, the international community signaled its commitment to addressing the inequalities that exist between men and women in armed conflict. While attempts have been made to address the inequalities, progress has been limited and sexual violence and rape continue to be used as a means of war. One of the primary issues is the lack of an accountability mechanism to ensure implementation of the resolution. CEDAW is requesting that Member States collaborate with civil societies and NGOs to improve implementation. The Committee notes that states can help reduce the level of violence during armed conflict by responding to womens needs and protection, prosecuting the individuals responsible for the violence, and encouraging the involvement of women in decision-making.

This report considers the failure of the international community to address the issue of war-time sexual violence during the early years of the UN. Developments are traced to the early 1990s when the international community finally recognized that human rights violations committed against women during armed conflict, including sexual violence, violate fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law. In the second part of this issue, the manner in which sexual violence during armed conflict emerged as an item of serious concern within the UN is examined. The role of women's NGOs in exerting pressure for change is highlighted, and the UN's response described. The concluding section examines how the issue may be advanced in the next century.

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 recognizes that armed conflict affects women and girls differently than men and boys. This resolution has resulted in some improvements, but implementation challenges remain. Four recent resolutions (1820 in 2008, 1888 and 1889 in 2009, and 1960 in 2010) attempt to address these challenges. Together with Resolution 1325, these resolutions are known as the Women, Peace, and Security resolutions (WPS). This collection of papers provides resource material to support the implementation of these resolutions.

This briefing paper was prepared for the Symposium on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Beyond that took place in Brussels, Belgium in June 2006. Part I discusses the nature and scope of sexual violence against women and children in situations of armed conflict. Part II describes international actions that have been taken to combat gender-based violence against women. Here, the authors advocate a multi-sectoral approach, which "calls for holistic inter-organizational and inter-agency efforts, across the health, social services, legal and security sectors". Part III assesses progress in this area, arguing that states and the international community as a whole have failed to prioritize violence against women as a major health and human rights issue. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of ending impunity for perpetrators of violence. [Descriptors: Armed Conflict, Violence Against Women, International]