UWAN speaks with Human Rights Watch's Steve Crawshaw

16 February 2010

Mr. Crawshaw began by commenting on the valuable input of UN spouses in mid-2008 on the issue of sexual violence in conflict situations which lead to the framing and positive outcome of the historic, cornerstone resolution on sexual violence in conflict zones - SCR 1820. Concerted advocacy by a number of groups encouraged some players to overcome initial resistance to the resolution and its effort to mainstream issues around sexual violence into the UN agenda. The adoption of SCR 1888 and the subsequent appointment of the SG’s Special Representative is seen as a positive step to promote and coordinate efforts to highlight the horror of rape in conflict for individuals and the community.

HRW documents the raw reality of human rights abuses on the ground ensuring its facts are scrupulously researched and verified. HRW is aware that countries have complex historical and political situations and that some countries will have difficulty reaching human rights norms. However HRW advocates that issues around impunity and accountability should be addressed through the Security Council. Security Council resolutions must be implemented in a practical way. Sexual abuse is much more than a women’s issue and to be addressed effectively it needs to be approached on a number of fronts. The SG’s new Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict will raise its profile, however more women decision-makers and peace keepers need to be engaged. Civil society also needs to be strengthened.

Brief History of HRW

HRW, established 30 years ago as Helsinki Watch initially focussed on confronting abuses behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ As well as documenting abuses it provided a voice to high level advocates from the region. Americas’ Watch and Middle East Watch followed with all these sectors uniting into Human Rights Watch in the 1990s. HRW has geographical and thematic divisions with the Women’s Rights Division seen as a covering a critical issue. HRW is based in New York with 250 staff in key regions/countries. It works in 70-80 countries with a focus on investigating and documenting human rights abuses. In order to ensure its independence and credibility HRW does not take funding from any government.

Role of HRW

As well as its role of investigating and documenting human rights abuses, HRW works closely with the various international tribunals such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Tribunal for Sierra Leone where HRW research is used as evidence and researchers give testimony. HRW makes every effort to validate its research with on-the-ground primary information with its researchers working in country. Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones HRW has documented sexual violence in conflict situations in a number of countries. “Let No one be left to Tell the Story” documented the Rwanda genocide and the failure of the international community to address it. Non-permanent and seemingly less powerful countries on the Security Council played a key role in pushing the more influential countries to move on this issue.

In 1996 HRW documented sexual violence in Rwanda in “Shattered Lives”. ´

In 2002 HRW published “War within a War” where it documented sexual violence in Eastern Congo. This publication worked to make readers understand the use of rape as a weapon of war. The perpetrators of rape in conflict situations use it to humiliate the individual but also as a collective punishment and as a way to destroy communities.

Crawshaw noted that confronting sexual abuse and ending impunity for the perpetrators can have a significant and beneficial effect on the broader community as well as the individual.

A wide range of HRW documentation is available on their website: www.hrw.org Steve shared the following recently published documents:

• “Human Rights Watch WORLD REPORT 2010” - Events of 2009
• “We have the Promises of the World” - Women’s Rights in Afghanistan. December 2009
• “No Tally of the Anguish” – Accountability in Maternal Health in India. October 2009
• “Soldiers who Rape, Commanders who condone” - Sexual Violence and Military Reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. July 2009
• “Bloody Monday” – The September 28 Massacre and Rapes by Security Forces in Guinea. December 2009
• "You Will Be Punished" – Attacks on Civilians in Eastern Congo. December 2009.

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