Training on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence for Law School Lecturers
The Ukrainian Red Cross, with the support of the French Red Cross, organised an important awareness-raising event on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
On 15 and 16 October 2024, a training session for representatives of higher legal education in Ukraine was held in Uzhhorod. The event was attended by heads of departments, doctors (PhD) and candidates of sciences, associate professors, and lecturers from various higher education institutions, including the National Academy of Internal Affairs, the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine, the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and other law schools across Ukraine.
Yulia Chystiakova, a trainer from the Ukrainian and French Red Crosses, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the National University “Odesa Law Academy”, and a lecturer at the University Paris Nanterre, was the speaker at the training event.
“Unfortunately, the topic of conflict-related sexual violence is currently extremely relevant for Ukrainian society, as experience shows that armed conflict is always accompanied by sexual violence. The main goal of the training was to engage with colleagues who educate future lawyers on how CRSV is defined and regulated in both international and national law. We also aimed to discuss the difficulties in categorising these actions, particularly in the Ukrainian context. The lively discussions among the training participants and their interest in resolving these cases highlighted the critical importance of the topic,” she stated.
The training programme covered the topic of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and its various forms, including rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced sterilisation, and other manifestations of sexual violence. Participants also discussed the specifics of the legal regulation of rape and sexual violence in wartime. In particular, they had the opportunity to learn in detail about the following aspects:
- Who can commit sexual violence during armed conflict?
- Who can be affected by CRSV?
- Causes and consequences of CRSV.
- CRSV in the Ukrainian context.
- Manifestations of CRSV in Ukraine.
- Official statistics as of September 2024.
- Customary international humanitarian law.
- The Geneva Conventions of 1949.
- The Rome Statute.
- Responsibility for CRSV: the basis of national law.
In addition to the theoretical component of the training, the audience participated in practical case studies and analysed official documents and reports.
Feedback from Training Participants on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
The professional audience at the training event actively participated in discussions and debates on the issue of sexual violence during the war in Ukraine, particularly in light of the numerous crimes committed by the military of the Russian Federation. Additionally, participants raised questions about the collection of evidence for these crimes, the specifics of court proceedings, the process for obtaining compensation for damages, and the concept of victim-blaming (the phenomenon of attributing responsibility to the victim rather than the perpetrator for a crime).
“I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Ukrainian Red Cross training on international humanitarian law (IHL) for law faculty members. This topic is extremely important, especially in the context of the full-scale war in Ukraine, where knowledge of human rights and humanitarian norms is critical for shaping the consciousness of the younger generation of lawyers. My personal impressions of the two days of training were very positive. The training was intensive and fruitful, featuring numerous practical exercises and discussions. Interaction with my colleagues and expert Yulia Chystiakova provided me with new ideas for my future work,” shared Zoriana Skaletska, Doctor of Law (Poland), Associate Professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and Partner at Ario Law Firm.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Ukrainian Red Cross for conducting the training on the topic of CRSV. The importance of this training, as well as the issues of compliance with the standards and norms of international humanitarian law in general, cannot be overstated, especially in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. I would like to note that the involvement of representatives from various legal specialities created conditions for effective interdisciplinary discussion, allowing us to analyse the topic proposed by the organisers in a more comprehensive manner,” said Yevhen Titov, Associate Professor at the Department of International and European Law at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
“Discussing CRSV across different platforms and with the involvement of various professionals allows us to understand the gravity of this crime and identify effective ways to combat it. Participation in the training organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross enabled a detailed analysis of CRSV, as attendees included specialists from diverse fields such as psychology, law enforcement, and international humanitarian law. I am grateful to the Ukrainian Red Cross for the opportunity to participate in this training!” said Kateryna Siokh, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Constitutional Law and Human Rights at the National Academy of Internal Affairs.
The Ukrainian Red Cross, with the support of its international partners, continues to implement vital awareness-raising initiatives for Ukrainian society.
