EasternUkraine: ICC Submission on Sexual Crimes

On 25 September 2018, Global Diligence LLP partner – Alexandre Prezanti – submitted an Article 15 Communication (complaint) to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleging sexual crimes perpetrated in the context of the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The Communication identifies 23 places of detention controlled by separatist armed groups for which there is evidence of sexual war crimes and/or crimes against humanity perpetrated against male and female combatants and civilians. Documented crimes include rape, enforced prostitution, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence (such as damage to sexual organs and cruel or degrading treatment of a sexual nature). These crimes were perpetrated for the purpose of punishment, extracting confessions, extortion and/or combatant amusement.  The aim of the Communication is to persuade the ICC Prosecutor to include these and other sexual crimes within the purview of her preliminary examination into the situation in Ukraine.

The Communication was prepared by A. Prezanti on behalf of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Eastern Ukrainian Centre for Civic Initiatives (EUCCI). More information is available here.