Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

82 PRACTITIONERS GUIDE No. 12
specifically, particularly sexualized violence and crimes related
to reproduction, for example forced pregnancy and forced
sterilization. However, it is important to recall that other forms
of violence can be gender-based, for example, gender-based
persecution could include detention of women, transfers of
women civilians and denial of civil, political or economic rights
of women on the grounds of their failure to abide by social or
cultural norms. 210
Working as an advocate in these situations can lead to highly
increased risks for advocates and their clients. Special care
should be taken to act ethically, with the safety of victims and
survivors as a priority, referring to specialist guides, such as
the International Protocol on the Documentation and
Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. 211
Some of the crimes particularly important in the context of
violence against women under the Rome Statute include:
Crimes against humanity, irrespective of whether they
are perpetrated within the context of armed conflict;
War crimes in an international armed conflict; and
War crimes in a non-international armed conflict.
Crimes against humanity
Crimes against humanity – acts committed as part of a
widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian
population, when the perpetrator has knowledge of that attack
– can include crimes of violence against women. These crimes
against humanity which may affect women include:
Murder;
210
Valerie Oosterveld, “Gender, Persecution, and the International
Criminal Court: Refugee Law’s Relevance to the Crime Against
Humanity of Gender-Based Persecution” (2006) 17 Duke Journal of
Comparative & International Law, 49-89.
211
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, “International Protocol on
the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Basic Standards of Best Practice on the Documentation of Sexual
Violence as a Crime under International Law” (2014).