Gender Report Card on the International Criminal ... - YWCA Canada

Structures & Institutional Development Structures
Outreach Programme
The ICC defines outreach as one of its three external
communication functions, in addition to external relations and
public information. All of these functions are carried out by the
Public Information and Documentation Section (PIDS). More
specifically, the Outreach programme is managed by the Outreach
Unit within PIDS.
The Court’s Integrated Strategy for External Relations, Public Information and Outreach
(2005) 137 defines outreach as the ‘process of establishing sustainable, two-way
communication between the Court and communities affected by Situations that are
the subject of investigations or proceedings. It aims to provide information, promote
understanding and support for the Court’s work, and to provide access to judicial
proceedings.’ 138
According to the Outreach Unit, a gender perspective is included in the messages it
delivers during face-to-face sessions or through media. When outreach activities are
specifically conducted for women, information focused on explaining charges of interest
to this group, namely sexual and gender-based violence, is included.
In 2008, the Unit developed guidelines for Outreach Officers on how to speak about
gender-based crimes. The guidelines were developed particularly for the DRC and CAR,
but are used in all the Situations in which the Outreach Unit operates. 139 The guidelines
give four key messages that have to be communicated when addressing the subject of
sexual and gender-based violence:
n
n
n
‘Acts of sexual and gender-based violence have a dramatic effect in the communities;
sexual and gender-based violence represents a wide variety of crimes;
Acts of sexual and gender-based violence are part of the most serious crimes against
the international community as a whole; acts of sexual and gender-based violence
shall not remain unpunished;
Victims of sexual and gender-based violence have rights even though they hardly
manage to exercise them; and
n Sexual and gender-based violence requires a specific prosecutorial strategy.’ 140
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137 Integrated Strategy for External Relations, Public Information and Outreach, at , last
consulted on 29 September 2011.
138 Ibidem, p 3.
139 Email communication with the Outreach Unit, 13 September 2011.
140 Email communication with the Outreach Unit, 22 September 2009.