Oct. 7, 2020

LISD announces the launch of the report on "Preventing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Detention Settings: Principles and Commentary,” which was conceived at an LISD-hosted conference in 2018, and is a collaboration with All Survivors Project, the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, and the Health and Human Rights Law Project at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

As recognised by the Security Council in Resolution 2467 (April 2019), detention settings are a key context of vulnerability to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), particularly for men and boys. The Principles on the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Detention Settings draw from existing international law – primarily international human rights law and international humanitarian law – as well as authoritative guidance to bring together in a single instrument ten key international principles to prevent and respond to CRSV, applicable to all persons deprived of their liberty in armed conflict. Each principle is accompanied by commentary on its sources and content. This event brought together academic experts, policy makers, and member states to: 

-Provide an overview of the scope and scale of CRSV in detention.
-Discuss standards under international law for the prevention of, and response to, CSRV against detainees, as well as existing gaps in the normative framework.
-Identify best practices and recommendations for detaining authorities to prevent CRSV in detention settings.

The event was moderated by:  Professor Lara Stemple, Director Health and Human Rights Law Project, UCLA School of Law, Member of Board of Advisors, All Survivors Project.

Opening remarks delivered by:

·       Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva;

·       Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in Geneva; and

·       Dr. Peter C. Matt, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the UN in Geneva.

The panelists were:

·       Anna Crowe, Assistant Director, International Human Rights Clinic, Harvard Law School;

·       H.E. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

·       Professor Manfred Nowak, Independent Expert leading the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty; and

·       Sophie Sutrich, Head of Addressing Sexual Violence, ICRC.