Realising Reparation for Survivors of Conflict-related Sexual Violence: What we’ve Learned
Sexual violence used as a weapon of war is still pervasive in all armed conflicts.
It has severe mental, physical, social, and other consequences on survivors. Reparation is essential to enable survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to address the consequences. However, most survivors will never receive reparation of any kind.
Survivors such as Purna Maya (name changed to protect her privacy), a tea shop owner in Nepal, often exhaust national and international avenues without receiving justice. One day in November 2004, during the internal armed conflict, she was dragged out of bed by soldiers and taken into custody. At a nearby army barracks, she was blindfolded, interrogated, beaten and raped. She suffered grave physical injuries as well as severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but has not received any reparations for the harm suffered, and still urgently requires redress.
Even when a court has ruled in favour of a victim and ordered reparations, their delivery is often delayed or reparations are not implemented. Survivors such as Ginette Ngarbaye in Chad, who helped secure the conviction of dictator Hissène Habré, died before receiving any of the reparations ordered a decade ago. Their cases are sadly not isolated incidents. And that needs to change.
Comprehensive reparation includes not only financial compensation but also rehabilitation, such as medical and psychological support; restitution, which seeks to build back the survivors’ lives to how it was before the violations occurred; satisfaction, which is acknowledging that the human rights violation occurred such as a public apology and guarantees of non-repetition to prevent anyone enduring that kind of suffering again.
Over the past two years, REDRESS, with the support of the Global Survivors Fund, has been working with partners in Nepal, Chad, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to promote the implementation of decisions awarding reparation to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
What we learned
- Survivors are drivers of change.
When survivors are involved at every stage of the reparation decision, outcomes are more effective and more empowering. - Adopt an inclusive approach.
Reparation is a complex process. It takes a diverse coalition, rom practitioners and survivor groups to civil society, the media, and State representatives, to shaping and driving effective strategies to promote the implementation of reparation orders. - Engage institutions.
Some contexts allow the for the co-creation of strategies with national authorities or other institutional allies. But even when State actors aren’t cooperative, engaging them can build understanding and help lay the groundwork for future change. - Every case is different.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Strategies must adapt to the local context, survivors’ needs, and available resources. - Plan long-term.
Reparation can take years. Your approach needs to cover the short, medium, and long term.
Read our new briefing to learn about the key lessons from our work supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and how reparations can become a reality.
Photo by Conflict Victim Women National Network.