Committee hears evidence from the FCO and International Criminal Court

• Parliament TV: Sexual Violence in Conflict
• Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee

Witnesses

Tuesday 17 November in Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster

At 3.45pm:

• Dr Chris Dolan, Director, Refugee Law Project, Uganda
• Professor Doris Schopper, Director, Center for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (via video link)
• Ms Josephine Wambui, Programme Officer Somalia, Oxfam Novib

At 4.45pm:

• Ms Niamh Hayes, Head of Office, Institute for International Criminal Investigations
• Judge Mary McGowan Davis, former acting Justice of the Supreme Court of New York
• Dr Shana Swiss, Founder and Director, Women's Rights International

Background

In the first session the Committee focused on:

• the needs of survivors including the different needs of female, male and child survivors
• whether the witnesses agree with UN Special Representative Bangura's view that supporting the livelihoods of victims of sexual violence is the 'missing link' in supporting victims
• whether the UK Government's Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) has been effective in supporting survivors.

In the second session the Committee focused on:

• whether the International Criminal Court is effective in holding to account perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict
• the barriers survivors face in accessing justice
• what role non-judicial mechanisms, such as truth and reconciliation commissions, have in providing accountability for acts of sexual violence in conflict.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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