Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Sexual violence is a violation of human rights and a crime under international law. It is also a pervasive and devastating tool of repression, often used in conflict to terrorize, punish, or displace populations. For too long, survivors—particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings—have faced silence, stigma, and impunity.

Sexual violence frequently reflects broader patterns of violence rooted in gender inequality and unequal power dynamics. As recognized in the International Criminal Court’s 2023 Policy on Gender-Based Crimes, gender-based violence refers to any harmful act committed against a person because of their gender, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity—or acts that disproportionately affect individuals due to these characteristics.

While sexual violence remains a central concern, it is important to understand it within the broader framework of gender-based violence. This category encompasses a range of acts, including but not limited to:

• Rape and other forms of sexual violence
• Forced pregnancy or sterilization
• Sexual slavery or exploitation
• Gendered persecution
• Forced marriage, abortion, or nudity
• Other harms rooted in gendered power dynamics, even when not overtly sexual

Adopting a gender perspective allows us to expose the discriminatory structures that enable these crimes and to support responses that are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and inclusive of all affected individuals—regardless of their gender identity.

In conflict and post-conflict contexts, sexual and gender-based violence is often deliberately used as part of armed groups’ military strategies, alongside killings, child recruitment, property destruction, and looting.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) may constitute international crimes—including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide—when committed in specific contexts. These acts can and should be prosecuted before national and international courts.

Over the past two decades, international courts and tribunals have significantly developed jurisprudence on SGBV, helping to increase visibility and recognition of these crimes. Yet, SGBV remains alarmingly widespread globally.

Certain groups are particularly at risk, including:

• Women and girls, especially widows and female heads of households
• Migrants and refugees
• Detainees
• Members of specific ethnic groups
• Individuals associated with armed forces or armed groups
• LGBTQI+ individuals

TRIAL International supports survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in their pursuit of justice and reparation, while advocating for the structural reforms necessary to prevent recurrence.

TRIAL International work includes:

• Documenting sexual and gender-based crimes in conflict and post-conflict settings, including under-recognized or marginalized forms of violence
• Supporting survivors through legal aid and referrals to psycho-social services
• Training judicial actors to investigate and prosecute SGBV in accordance with international standards
• Promoting accountability through strategic litigation before national and international courts
• Advocating for survivors’ rights and the adoption of gender-sensitive laws and policies

Our activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and elsewhere show that justice for survivors is not only possible—it is essential for lasting peace, dignity, and equality.