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

84 PRACTITIONERS GUIDE No. 12
Violence to life and person, including murder of all
kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
Committing outrages upon personal dignity, including
humiliating and degrading treatment; and
Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced
pregnancy and other forms of sexual violence. 214
Reparations and access to justice post-conflict
The UN Basic Principles on Remedy and Reparation apply not
only to human rights violations, with special provisions
applicable to gross human rights violations, but also to serious
violations of international humanitarian law.
In his In-depth study on violence against women, the UN
Secretary-General noted that:
“During and after armed conflict, women in
disproportionate numbers may suffer certain forms of
violence and they may also be targeted for genderspecific
forms of violence. As a result, their physical,
psychological and reproductive well-being may be
severely compromised. Women have been the targets of
sexual violence, including rape, during armed conflict.
The consequences of such violence include exposure to
sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, and
unwanted or forced pregnancies. In addition, women
who are forcibly displaced or are refugees face a high
risk of gender-based violence. The range of services
required to assist victims/survivors of violence against
women include: comprehensive medical services,
including access to safe abortion; counselling; shelter;
provision of basic necessities such as food, water and
sanitation; and community services and education.” 215
Women may be targets of post-conflict violence in a variety of
ways, as they assume many roles during conflict – as
214
Ibid, Article 8(c) and (e).
215
UN Secretary-General, “In-depth study on all forms of violence
against women”, UN Doc A/61/122/Add.1 (2006), paragraph 334.