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Seeking Accountability and Preventing Reoccurrence: Addressing Conflict- Related Sexual Slavery Through the Women, Peace, and Se

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Seeking Accountability and Preventing Reoccurrence: Addressing Conflict- Related Sexual Slavery Through the Women, Peace, and Se SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PREVENTING REOCCURRENCE: ADDRESSING CONFLICT- RELATED SEXUAL SLAVERY THROUGH THE WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY AGENDA A publication of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency © 2020 Global Network of Women Peacebuilders Printed in New York, New York, USA Lead Author and Overall Project Coordinator Mallika Iyer Co-Authors Dr. Heisoo Shin, Jihyun Kim, Jenaina Irani, and Heela Yoon Case Study Authors Iraq: Anonymous Researcher* Uganda: Twijukireho Edwins Ahumuza World War Two in Asia and the Pacific: Dr. Heisoo Shin and Jihyun Kim Peer Reviewer and Editor Eleonore Veillet-Chowdhury Project Advisor Mavic Cabrera Balleza Layout and Design Katrina Leclerc *The author preferred to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Please feel free to use and cite parts of this publication, crediting the authors and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. Acknowledgments We thank the survivors of conflict-related sexual slavery, women’s rights activists, local and national government officials, human rights lawyers, and grassroots peacebuilders in South Korea, Uganda, and Iraq whose generous participation in focus group discussions and key informant interviews made this research possible. We hope that this research will inform and strengthen the global response to conflict-related sexual slavery and survivor- centered implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. Special thanks goes to global policymakers who provided valuable insights to this research through key informant interviews. We are grateful to the Korean International Cooperation Agency for their generous support, continuous partnership, and valuable inputs into the research. We express deep gratitude to Stephanie Kim, Gender Specialist, Program Strategy and Policy Planning Department, for her guidance and substantive inputs into the research. Table of Contents Glossary Foreword Executive Summary Key Findings Recommendations Overview of the Research I. Defining Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery II. Links Between Armed Conflict and the Incidence of Sexual Slavery III. The Evolution of Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery: Incidences of Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery from World War Two to the Contemporary Geopolitical Context A. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery in the Context of World War Two: Japan’s “Comfort Women” B. Evolution of the Context in which Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery Occurs C. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery as a Tactic of Terrorism D. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery in Humanitarian Emergencies E. State-Sponsored Sexual Slavery IV. Gaps and Opportunities to Address Sexual Slavery in International Humanitarian, Criminal, and Human Rights Laws, the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and Policies on Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism A. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery in International Human Rights, Humanitarian, and Criminal Laws B. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda C. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery in Policies on Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism D. Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery and Peace Processes, Post Conflict Resolution, and Transitional Justice V. Highlighting the Initiatives of Women’s Rights Organizations and Civil Society Groups in Condemning, and Demanding Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery A. Marginalization and Stigma Experienced by Victims/Survivors of Conflict- Related Sexual Slavery B. Survivors and Women’s Rights Organizations’ Advocacy for Accountability and Efforts to Address the Impacts of Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery during World War Two C. Survivors and Women’s Rights Organizations’ Advocacy for Accountability and Efforts to Address the Impacts of Contemporary Conflict-Related Sexual Slavery D. Challenges in Holding Key Actors Accountable for the Full and Effective Implementation of the WPS Resolutions and International Laws on Conflict- Related Sexual Slavery VI. Conclusion and Recommendations Glossary of Abbreviations AFRC: Armed Forces Revolutionary Council LGBTI: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations NAP: National Action Plan BDPfA: Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action NGO: Non-Governmental Organization CEWIGO: Centre for Women in Governance PRDP: Peace, Recovery and Development Plan CEDAW: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination PVE: Preventing Violent Extremism against Women PTSD: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder CESCR: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Right PCVE: Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism CAT: Committee Against Torture PVE: Preventing Violent Extremism CERD: Committee on the Elimination of Racial SGBV: Sexual Gender-based Violence Discrimination SRSG on SVC: Special Representative of the Secretary CAVR: Commission of Reception, Truth, Reconciliation in General on Sexual Violence in Conflict East Timor, or Comissão de Acolhimento, Verdade e TKC: Traditional Kinetic Conflict Reconciliação de Timor Leste TWRF: Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation CT: Counter Terrorism UN: United Nations CIGE: Commission of Investigation and Gathering Evidence UNODC: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime CVE: Countering Violent Extremism UNSCR: United Nations Security Council Resolution DRC: Democratic Republic of Congo WPS: Women, Peace and Security FARC: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or WHO: World Health Organization Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia YSN: Yazidi Survivor Network FARDC: Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo FYF: Free Yazidi Foundation GNWP: Global Network of Women Peacebuilders HRC: Human Rights Committee ICJ: International Court of Justice ICC: International Criminal Court IOM: International Organization for Migration ICTY: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ILO: International Labor Organization KII: Key Informative Interviews LRA: Lord Resistance Army LAP: Local Action Plan P A G E 1 Executive Summary Conflict-related sexual slavery is a widespread, systematic, However, it is essential to strengthen specific policies, institutionalized, and deliberate human rights abuse provisions, and programming on conflict-related sexual committed by militaries under government supervision, slavery for the implementation of the Women, Peace, and state-sponsored militia groups, non-state armed groups, Security resolutions, including National Action Plans. violent extremist groups, and criminal networks alike. Localization of United Nations Security Council Resolution Causing tremendous and long-lasting harm to women, girls, (UNSCR) 1325 is an important instrument to ensure that and entire communities, sexual slavery is used as a weapon the needs of survivors of sexual slavery are met and to of war, a wartime strategy, or a tactic of terrorism to recruit prevent the reoccurrence of the crime, through context- and retain fighters, fund operations, instill fear, destroy specific, survivor-centered conflict resolution initiatives communities, and promote ideology. developed in partnership with women’s civil society. The context in which conflict-related sexual slavery is The coinciding 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration occurring has evolved since World War Two. The rise of and Platform for Action, 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, violent extremist groups and criminal networks has and the 20th anniversary of the Women's International contributed to the widespread use of the bodies of women War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japan's Military Sexual and girls as a form of currency in the political economy of Slavery in 2020 present a critical opportunity to highlight war. Forced displacement, refugee crises, and humanitarian the need to step up the response to sexual slavery, emergencies as a result of armed conflict have further particularly justice and reparation for survivors as well as exacerbated insecurity for women and girls, increasing prevention efforts. It is a unique moment for survivors, their vulnerability to sexual slavery. women’s rights organizations, and civil society groups worldwide to demand that the United Nations, Member Survivors of sexual slavery are not a homogenous group— States, regional organizations, the International Criminal each individual experience is unique and affected by Court, and the International Court of Justice take geography, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, concerted action to end sexual slavery in collaboration with nationality, and religion, among other intersecting factors. civil society, the media, academia, faith-based institutions Yet survivors across conflict contexts often face high levels and other key stakeholders. of stigmatization and marginalization from their communities and families. In spite of this, many survivors The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), have broken the barrier of silence and actively advocate with support from the Korean International Cooperation for accountability and reparations from perpetrators, Agency (KOICA), coordinated a global research to analyze dispelling the narrative that survivors of conflict-related historical and contemporary incidences of sexual slavery, sexual slavery are passive victims without agency. In the from World War Two to the present geopolitical context. absence of effective action taken by global and national The overall
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