Conference Report: Justice Denied: Fighting Widespread Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV)

<p dir="ltr">Sexual and gender-based violence against civilians is becoming more prevalent as a tool of warfare, not less. Almost twenty-five years after the adoption of UNSCR 1325, which established the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and more than a decade after the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) was introduced by the United Kingdom, there is greater awareness of the egregious nature and impacts of this violence. But impunity remains high in the growing number of fragile and conflict settings globally. </p><p dir="ltr">The Justice Denied conference aimed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and critical reflection on the current state of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in the Indo-Pacific region, including fragile situations and all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. It showcased cutting-edge research, discussed policy solutions and shared diverse experiences of CRSV within the region. </p><p dir="ltr">Recognising the available tools and training, such as the Murad Code, the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, and the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the conference examined the relevance and applicability of these tools and training for conflict and fragile situations across the Indo-Pacific. CRSV destroys the lives of individuals, families, communities and whole societies, it prolongs conflict and sets back post-conflict recovery.  The conference examined the international consensus forged in state commitments to the PSVI and the WPS agenda, through National Action Plans and Regional Action Plans, to prohibit sexual violence in conflict and overcome the challenges of ending impunity in the Indo-Pacific context. The conference addressed diverse conflicts, including coups, terrorism, protracted civil conflict, local conflicts, sieges, ethnic cleansing, and gender apartheid to explore patterns of violence and understand why impunity for CRSV is widely accepted by many with authority to end it, especially states and non-state armed groups, across the Indo-Pacific.</p>