Second edition of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict
The International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, produced in collaboration with over 200 gender and sexual violence experts, was launched at the 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Protocol is designed to help strengthen the evidence base for bringing perpetrators to justice, thus overcoming one of the key barriers to tackling impunity for sexual violence in conflict. The second edition of the International Protocol is now available in English.
Documents
Details
First edition
Since launching the International Protocol in 2014 the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has worked with governments, the judiciary, police and civil society in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Nepal and Uganda to provide training on the International Protocol, to help practitioners gather evidence and bring prosecutions against perpetrators of sexual violence. Through boosting the capacity of States to prosecute offenders and offer justice to victims, and encouraging human rights defenders and grass roots organisations to press for specific changes to domestic legislation, the International Protocol is making a real and practical difference to the fight against impunity and tackling sexual violence in conflict.
Second edition
The International Protocol was always intended to be a living document, to be updated as best practice evolved and in light of the feedback received on its use. In 2016 the department launched a revision process and the second version of the International Protocol is now available.
The revised version contains a number of additions, including guidance on the specific context, challenges and techniques required for interviewing and documenting conflict and atrocity-related sexual violence against children and against male victims; further guidance on trauma; and a focus on analysing evidence and establishing patterns of violations.
The lead authors of the Second Edition of the International Protocol are Sara Ferro Ribeiro and Danaé van der Straten Ponthoz and are independent consultants and PSVI Senior Advisers for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Training materials
You can also read guidelines for investigating conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence against men and boys.
Updates to this page
Published 11 June 2014Last updated 15 August 2016 + show all updates
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Link to IP training modules added.
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Protocol translations added in Burmese, Serbian, Albanian and Swahili.
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Kurdish translation of the International Protocol added.
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First published.