NICE SYMPOSIUM ON CRSV 2024 - VIDEO REVIEW

SYMPOSIUM 
Nice 2024

Combating Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Normative Frameworks and Operational Action

The symposium « Combating Conflict-Related Sexual Violence - Normative Frameworks and Operational Action » took place in Nice on January 25-26, 2024 with great success.

It was jointly organized by: 

• Université Côte d’Azur  (through its Institute for Peace and Development and its UNESCO Chair on Peace and Development through Law)
• Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders)

With the participation of:

• Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and her Office

As part of this original institutional partnership, the symposium goal was to bring together the views of academic experts and international, national and local actors on the major challenge posed by conflict-related sexual violence. Based on an analysis of prevention and reaction frameworks and their shortcomings, the aim was, in particular, to identify how the three institutions could jointly contribute to the fight by combining their actions.

In the presence of Pramila Patten, United Nations Special Representative responsible for the issue of sexual violence committed in times of conflict, about thirty participants, from various geographical and institutional backgrounds, shared their knowledge and critical analyzes on these issues (in English or in French - with simultaneous interpretation provided). Some of the participants have been directly invited by the organizing scientific committee because of their functions, expertise or experience; others were selected on the basis of a call for applications.

The video recordings are now available on YouTube.
 

Opening session:

- Cécile Sabourault, Vice-president for international affairs of Université Côte d’Azur
- Patrick Weil, Founder and President of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières
- Jean-Christophe Martin, Université Côte d’Azur, Director of the IdPD - UNESCO Chair P2D 
 

Keynote speech highlight:

- Pramila PATTEN United Nations Under-Secretary-General Special Representative of the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict

 

Panel 1: International Legal Frameworks Against CRSV

Moderator: Jean-Christophe MARTIN, Université Côte d’Azur
- Paola FORGIONE, Legal Advisor at International Committee of the Red Cross: “International Humanitarian Law and Sexual Violence: The ICRC’s work on addressing sexual violence through national implementation”
- Anne Marie de BROUWER, Director of IMPACT- Center Against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict: “The fight against CRSV linked to trafficking in persons”
- Lorraine DUMONT, Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law: “Armed conflict and sexual violence in international human rights law in light of the feminist legal theory”
- Joya ELIAS, Programme manager at International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law: “Investigating and prosecuting sexual violence linked to terrorism”

 

Panel 2: National Criminal Justice Frameworks on the Investigation and Prosecution of CRSV

Moderator: Patrick WEIL, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières
- Winthrop WELLS, Senior Manager, Programs and Policy Planning at International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law: “Evidence collection in sexual violence linked to terrorism investigations”
- Tendance Prisca VOUEZOLO BONGAT, Judge (Tribunal of Brazzaville), Public Prosecutor at the Administrative Court of Pointe-Noire: “The judicial treatment of sexual violence resulting from conflict by Congolese courts”
- Martial MANET, Associate researcher - Member of the network of the ANR project on sexual violence and childhood at war: “Sexual crimes in the Kivus: what assessment can be made of mobile courts ten years after they were introduced?”
- Discussant: Emmanuelle SAULNIER-CASSIA, Professor of European law, Université de Versailles-SaintQuentin-Paris-Saclay

 

Panel 3: Access to Justice and Reparation Mechanisms

Moderator : Bérangère TAXIL, University of Angers (project "Violences sexuelles et enfance en guerre")
- Muriel UBEDA-SAILLARD, Professor of international law, University of Lille, Council for the RDC before the ICJ in the case Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo - reparations judgment: “The proof of CRSV before international courts with a view to reparation”
- Paolina MASSIDDA, Principal Counsel at the independent Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) at the International Criminal Court: “Participation and reparation of sexual and gender-based crimes (SGBCs) victims before the ICC”
- Jean de Dieu SIKULIBO, Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Resource Centre in the Sahel region: “Ensuring Redress for Survivors of CRSV”
- Marie WILMET, European University Institute & Université Paris-Assas: “Providing Judicial Reparations for Sexual and Gender-based Crimes: Empirical Evidence from Cambodia”

 

Panel 4: Prevention strategies, Holistic Support, and Community Responses to CRSV

Moderator: Muriel UBEDA-SAILLARD, University of Lille - Katrien COPPENS, Executive director of Dr Mukwege Foundation: “Survivor centred holistic care: why ? and what does it take ?”
- Lindsay FORSLUND, Political Affairs Officer, Deputy coordinator, Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations: “The UN action framework for the prevention of CRSV”
- Pierre SALIGNON, Head of the humanitarian and stabilization operations center (CDCS) - Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France: “The action of the CDCS againt CRSV”.
- Ida ANDERSEN, MHPSS & Addressing Sexual Violence Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross: “Mental health and psychosocial support for victims/survivors of sexual violence in conflict and emergency settings: A scoping review”
- Jeremy LACHAL, Executive director of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières: “Creating innovative safe spaces and leveraging learning technologies to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence: a holistic approach”

 

Panel 5: Multi-sectoral policy frameworks and advocacy campaigns

Moderator: Anne MILLET-DEVALLE, Université Côte d’Azur
- Céline BARDET, Founder and President of the NGO "We Are NOT Weapons Of War" (WWoW): “The multi faceted challenges of conflict-related sexual violence and the urgent need for the appropriate responses”
- GianLuca BERUTO, Secretary general of the International Institute for Humanitarian Law: “Raising awareness and fostering knowledge on CRSV and Gender issues through training initiatives programs: the experience of the Sanremo Institute”
- Jocelyne MILANDOU KANZA, Magistrate, National President of the Association of Women Jurists of Congo - Coordinator of the National Network to Combat Gender-Based Violence (Renalvisco): “Social reintegration and the role of the media in amplifying the voices of victims and raising awareness of gender-based violence”
- Katrien COPPENS, Executive director of Dr Mukwege Foundation: “The Guidebook on State Obligations for ConflictRelated Sexual Violence”
 

NICE SYMPOSIUM ON CRSV 2024 homepage

This work has been supported by the French government, through the UCAJEDI Investments in the Future project managed by the National Research Agency (ANR) with the reference number ANR-15-IDEX-01.