Publications

A joint statement by United Against Torture Consortium (UATC) - REDRESS, FIACAT, APT, IRCT, OMCT, Omega Research Foundation - together with AFIA MAMA and our partners from Congolese civil society, delivered to the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council during the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This factsheet was prepared by REDRESS and Center for the Development of People (CEDEP) ahead of the 50th Universal Periodic Review pre-session. It discusses the widespread torture and ill-treatment of LGBTIQ+ persons in Malawi, driven by discriminatory laws, stigma, and systemic neglect. It also highlights gaps in legal protection, impunity for perpetrators, and denial of justice for victims, and offers key recommendations ahead of Malawi’s upcoming UPR to end violence and discrimination.

REDRESS, CEDEP, and nine Malawian organisations under the Human Rights Grants make this submission as part of the 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to highlight the issue of discriminatory violence, including torture, affecting individuals who identify as or are perceived to be LGBTIQ+ in Malawi. This submission identifies patterns of violence, intimidation, extortion, and harassment by law enforcement officers against the LGBTIQ+ community..

Over two years, REDRESS, with support from the Global Survivors’ Fund, worked with partners in Chad, DRC, Kenya, and Nepal to promote the implementation of reparation decisions for survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV). Using survivor-centred, holistic strategic litigation and advocacy, the project aimed to build coalitions, support survivors, and foster knowledge exchange among practitioners. This brief shares key insights from the initiative and complements a fuller report that examines obstacles to implementation and highlights adaptable tools and techniques from 11 cases.

Since February 2024, the Chadian government has been engaged in a process of compensation for victims of the regime of former dictator Hissène Habré. But in spite of the urgent needs of the victims, the reparation process continues to drag on without resolution. This briefing briefly describes the (1) context, (2) the reparation process and its obstacles, (3) and proposes recommendations to allow for full and adequate reparation for the victims of the Habré regime.

This publication builds on the discussions from a thematic briefing on reparation for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence held by REDRESS and the Global Survivors Fund during the 88th session of CEDAW. It highlights the challenges faced by survivors and the existing gaps in law and practice that hinder the fulfilment of their right to reparation. After analysing the relevant practice and jurisprudence from CEDAW, it also presents recommendations to this UN body to further support survivors in obtaining reparation.

The armed conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces  has caused unprecedented devastation. Rather than mitigating the magnitude of civilian harm caused by their fighting, the warring parties have each exploited the ongoing state of conflict to target civilians. This report is an abridged version of a submission made to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan in July 2024 and addresses one of the most prominent features of the targeting: the ongoing arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention, and torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by both sides of thousands of individuals, many of whom are civilians as part of a shadow war against civil society, human rights defenders, activists, and marginalised communities.

In February 2024, the ICC delivered its largest Reparation Order in the case against Dominic Ongwen, awarding reparations to thousands of victims of his crimes. This briefing paper examines the Reparation Order and looks ahead to a survivor-centred implementation.