18 June | Roundtable

 

‘SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT

STRENGTHENING THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY‘

 

Monday 18 June 2018 18.15-20.00

Palais de l’Athénée, Geneva
Free entrance

 

Speakers :

Kate Gilmore
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner of Human Rights

Valentin Zellweger
Ambassador, Swiss Permanent Representative of the Mission of Switzerland to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva

 

Roundtable :

Manon Schick (moderator)
Director of the Swiss section of Amnesty International

Céline Bardet
President and founder of ‘We are not Weapons of War’, international jurist specializing in international war crimes, justice and security

Ingrid Elliott MBE
International Criminal Justice and SGBV Expert, Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) UK Team of Experts

Maxine Marcus
Director of ‘Transitional Justice Clinic’

Daniele Perissi
Legal Advisor and Head of the DRC program, TRIAL International

 

 

With a special message of support from :

Dr Denis Mukwege
Gynaecologist and human rights defender

 

Long defined as a collateral damage of war, sexual violence is used as a weapon of war to terrorise civilians and destroy community links.  Perpetrated by a wide range of actors, conflict-related sexual violence is intrinsically linked to notions of power, fear, and domination. In numerous countries, individuals responsible for the commission of  these crimes enjoy absolute impunity: states that fail to hold perpetrators accountable convey the message that this form of violence is both acceptable and inevitable. Despite the reinforcement of the international legal framework, impunity for sexual violence crimes persists and access to justice for victims remains weak.

The need to fight against conflict-related sexual violence before international tribunals or local courts is now recognized as a priority. Within the framework of its 15th anniversary, TRIAL International is organizing a public roundtable on strengthening access to justice for victims. The panel of experts assembled for the occasion will share with the public the progress achieved in recent years with regard to the fight against impunity for conflict-related sexual violence, and will discuss the courses of action that are gradually opening up.

 

Support

The event is supported, among others, by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the City of Geneva, the Cottier Donze Foundation, the Barbour Foundation, the Geneva Bar Association LALIVE and a private foundation in Geneva.

In order to make this event possible, we are still in need of financial support. Help us to give a voice to victims of sexual violence and to strengthen the fight against impunity.

 

FOR DONATIONS

CCP: 17-162954-3
IBAN: CH85 0900 0000 1716 2954 3
Mention: Trial@15

 

For more information, contact us at s.jeker@trialinternational.org
or by telephone at +41 22 321 61 10.