Sexual Violence and International Human Rights: Experiences of Human Rights Watch

Sexual violence is defined as: "any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work."

International human rights encompass and protect reproductive rights, founded upon principles of dignity and human equality. Sexual violence in its various manifestations can be argued to violate various international human right norms, such as the right to life, liberty and security, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the right to be free from gender discrimination. Furthermore, acts such as rape, sexual assault, sexual slavery and forced prostitution may qualify as crimes under national and international laws.

The Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch has conducted research on identifying and overcoming persistent obstacles to preventing and punishing sexual violence against women. Topics include access to health care services for victims of rape, overcoming impunity for rape survivors, sexual violence as an instrument of war and armed conflict, and civil and penal code reform for women. The presentation will highlight some of the findings from states as diverse as Mexico, Zambia, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Kosovo.