A step forward for justice: Launch of the Ukrainian version of the Red Line Initiative Guidebook

As part of our initiatives to prevent and respond to CRSV, we recently launched the “Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence” in the Ukrainian language.

Here, we share an overview of this key event, which brought together representatives from the Ukrainian Government, the Ukrainian Women-Lawyers Association “JurFem” , the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation and survivors from SEMA Ukraine and ALUMNI on November 18, 2024. Read on to learn more. 

What is the “Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence”? 

The Guidebook compiles all of the applicable international law and norms relating to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) into a handbook to inform States in a comprehensive manner of their current obligations under international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and UN Security Council resolutions that form the Women, Peace and Security agenda. 

This new guidebook– which is divided into four thematic areas: prevention, justice and accountability, humanitarian response, and reparations–  also aims to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of civil society, including survivor movements, in asserting their rights and to support their advocacy efforts to hold States accountable. 

How was the Guidebook conceived? 

Following a research and consultation process with leading legal experts focused on identifying and understanding the existing obligations in the international legal frameworks relevant to conflict-related sexual violence, key insights were learned:

1. There is a need for States, policymakers, civil society actors, and survivor groups to be better aware of the existing legal obligations to which States are already bound.
2. In its 2021 Global retreat, the SEMA Global Survivor Network identified focusing on state responsibility for preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), as opposed to individual criminal liability, as a key priority.  

The Guidebook was conceived from these insights.   

Launch of the Guidebook in the Ukrainian language 

The public event held in Kyiv highlighted the existing State obligations relevant to preventing, stopping, and responding to conflict-related sexual violence and the need for greater State compliance and implementation of these obligations.  

The event included a panel discussion of distinguished Ukrainian legal and State actors to discuss the current state of compliance by the Ukrainian government, focusing on important efforts undertaken by the Ukrainian government and areas of potential improvement.  

Panellists from left to right: Olena Ohonovska  (Jurfem); Yaryna Bushchak (Analytical Center JurFem); Erin Farrell Rosenberg (Mukwege Foundation); Olena Lazarieva, (SEMA Ukraine); Inna Zavorotko (Department of Legal Support of the Ukraine Ministry of Defence).

Inna Zavorotko, Deputy Head of the International Law Unit of the Department of Legal Support of the Ukraine Ministry of Defence, encourages the use of the Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. In her own words,

“For us, this guidebook is not a goal, but a tool”

So far, three public launches of the Guidebook have been held in Geneva (focusing on IHL and IHRL State obligations); New York (focusing on the UN Security Council during the Council’s Open Debate on CRSV); and Kenya (focusing on the African regional human rights system).   

As the fourth launch of the Mukwege Foundation’s  Guidebook on States Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, this event set out in a comprehensive, holistic manner State obligations for CRSV under different fields of international law.  

Collaborating to end CRSV

From left to right: Alla Skrypnik (Mukwege Foundation); Iryna Andreeva (head of the Andreev Family Foundation); Yaryna Bushchak (Analytical Center Jurfem); Olena Lazarieva (SEMA Ukraine); Olena Ohonovska (Jurfem); Galina Tishenko (SEMA Ukraine); Mariia Yefimchuk (Mukwege Foundation); Olha Timchenko (Mukwege Foundation); Liudmila Huseinova (SEMA Ukraine).

In 2017, the Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association, JurFem, was officially established in Ukraine. 

When the full-scale war began, JurFem evolved into a crucial space for survivors of sexual violence and gender discrimination, offering essential support to those affected by the conflict. 

Olena Ohonovska (Jurfem)

In July 2024, JurFem’s Analytical Center published a report titled “Analysis of the State of Implementation by Ukraine of the International Legal Framework Contained in the Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence to Improve Ukraine’s National Legislation and Practice in Responding to sexual violence during the conflict.”  

This report was developed within the Mukwege Foundation’s Red Line Initiative framework and examines Ukraine’s national legislation and practices in addressing CRSV.

Available in both English and Ukrainian, the analysis offers critical recommendations for Ukrainian lawmakers and key policymakers involved in responding to CRSV. 

Olena Lazarieva (SEMA Ukraine)

Among the panellists, Olena Lazarieva, a representative of SEMA Ukraine, joined the conversation. SEMA Ukraine has become another key actor in the fight against CRSV in Ukraine.

As a national network, it brings together CRSV survivors, allowing them a safe space to share their experiences and learn how to defend their rights.

The national network also provides psychological support to survivors and helps to establish contacts with other specialized organizations dealing with solving medical and legal problems for people affected by CRSV.   

Katrien Coppens (director of the Mukwege Foundation)

In 2021, the Mukwege Foundation launched the Red Line Initiative, a global campaign for the elimination of the use of sexual violence in conflict, including as a method of warfare.

The Red Line Initiative is rooted in the belief that sexual violence in conflict and as a method of warfare represents a violation of our shared humanity that can no longer be accepted as an unfortunate but unpreventable part of armed conflict. Instead, it must be prioritized as a wholly unacceptable tactic that has no place in modern warfare.  

Recap

The Guidebook is a powerful toolkit, helping legal professionals and NGOs address the complexity of CRSV, promoting justice, and supporting survivors.

It sets out a comprehensive and holistic overview of state legal obligations under international humanitarian law, international and regional human rights law, and the United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding CRSV in prevention, justice and accountability, humanitarian response and redress.  

The Guidebook was developed by the Mukwege Foundation’s Red Line Initiative and is available as a free, accessible online resource at www.endcrsv.org/guidebook and, as of May 2024, is available in English, French, Spanish, and Ukrainian.

Thank you

We thank our co-host JurFem, SEMA Ukraine, and officials of the Ukrainian government, as well as the UK government and the Crisis and Support Centre of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for supporting the Mukwege Foundation’s Red Line Initiative.