Justice & Rule of Law
Conflicts are often caused by or result in the breakdown of law and order and the collapse of judicial institutions. In many cases, violent conflict replaces the rule of law with corruption and coercion, and hence significantly erodes or destroys a society’s ability to manage internal conflict and security.
In regards to RoL in conflict-affected situations, the NGOWG WPS advocates for the Security Council to adopt comprehensive strategies to investigate and prosecute crimes perpetrated against women to ensure justice, truth, and reparation for survivors, particularly in regard to the adjudication of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence. Member States are also encouraged to adopt appropriate legal frameworks to prevent discrimination against women and ensure their full and equal participation in RoL institutions as well as vet all national authorities, including the armed forces, to ensure those reasonably suspected of violence against women are not recruited. Effective victim and witness protection systems must be established. The NGOWG WPS also challenges the status quo relating to sexual exploitation and abuse, calling for the halt of the use of transfers of host countries of peacekeepers accused of perpetrating sexual and/or gender based violence. The Council should recognize the important role of the ICC in ending impunity, particularly in relation to crimes of sexual and gender-based violence.
Justice & Rule of Law
Conflicts are often caused by or result in the breakdown of law and order and the collapse of judicial institutions. In many cases, violent conflict replaces the rule of law with corruption and coercion, and hence significantly erodes or destroys a society’s ability to manage internal conflict and security.
In regards to ROL (Rule of Law) in conflict-affected situations, the NGOWG WPS advocates for the Security Council to adopt comprehensive strategies to investigate and prosecute crimes perpetrated against women to ensure justice, truth, and reparation for survivors, particularly in regard to the adjudication of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence. Member States are also encouraged to adopt appropriate legal frameworks to prevent discrimination against women and ensure their full and equal participation in ROL institutions as well as vet all national authorities, including the armed forces, to ensure those reasonably suspected of violence against women are not recruited. Effective victim and witness protection systems must be established.
The NGOWG WPS also challenges the status quo relating to sexual exploitation and abuse, calling for the halt of the use of transfers of host countries of peacekeepers accused of perpetrating sexual and/or gender based violence. The Council should recognize the important role of the ICC in ending impunity, particularly in relation to crimes of sexual and gender-based violence.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Justice & Rule of Law (October 2012)
The Council is expected to hold an open debate on its relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Given the serious concerns regarding impunity for violations of women’s rights in conflict situations, Member States, including Council members, should use this opportunity to strongly support the ICC to effectively investigate and prosecute, in line with international human rights standards, suspected perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, in particular those committed against women. In this regard, effective victim and witness protection measures must be put in place.
