Contents
FOREWORD 04
i. INTRODUCTION 06
ii. USING THE PROTOCOL 10
a) Purpose 10
b) Audience 10
c) What is the Protocol 11
d) Future use 12
PART I: SEXUAL VIOLENCE 14
1. UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE 15
1.1 Contextualising sexual violence 15
1.2 Responding to sexual violence 16
2. SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A CRIME UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW 16
2.1 Background 16
2.2 General definitions of crimes of sexual violence 15
2.3 Part A: Specific crimes of sexual violence or crimes which may 18
be committed through sexualised violence: “what happened?”
2.4 Part B: Contextual elements of international crimes: “what was 23
the context in which (the act of sexual violence) happened”?
(i) Sexual violence as a war crime or a violation of the 23
laws and customs of war
(ii) Sexual violence as a crime against humanity 24
(iii) Sexual violence as genocide 24
2.5 Part C: Modes of liability for commission of international crimes: 24
“how is the alleged perpetrator(s) responsible for that act of
sexual violence as a crime against international law?”
PART 2: DOCUMENTATION IN PRACTICE 28
3. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 29
3.1 Do No Harm 29
3.2 Training 29
3.3 Assessments 30
(i) Research 30
(ii) Risk assessments 30
3.4 Overall planning 35
4. KEY PLANNING TOPICS 36
4.1 Coordination 36
4.2 Interpretation 38
4.3 Organising information 40
5. IDENTIFYING SURVIVORS AND OTHER WITNESSES 41
5.1 Direct identification 42
5.2 Intermediaries 42
6. TESTIMONY 44
6.1 Informed consent 45
6.2 Confidentiality 47
6.3 Referrals 48
7. INTERVIEWING 50
7.1 Interview settings 52
7.2 Interviewing checklist 53
7.3 Types of questions 54
7.4 Interviewing techniques 56
7.5 Recording interview information 61
8. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION 61
8.1 Physical evidence 61
(i) Sites of attacks 63
8.2 Documentary evidence 66
(i) Types of documents 66
9. STORING INFORMATION 68
9.1 Storing documents and other physical information 69
9.2 Storing digital information 69
9.3 Storing medical legal/forensic information 70
BIBLIOGRAPHY 72
LIST OF ANNEXES 76
1. Evidence Workbook for Documentation of Crimes of Sexual Violence: 76
a tool to assist investigators in filling evidentiary gaps
2. Basic Elements of Multi-Sectoral Response to Sexual Violence 113
3. Interviewing: Fundamental principles and top practical tips 114
4. Template for personal data to be collected from survivors/witnesses 118
5. Referral systems and types of assistance for survivors/witnesses 120
6. Physical evidence: principles on chain of custody 121
7. Documentary evidence: principles on chain of custody 124
8. Guidance on photographing and sketching crime scenes, physical 127
evidence and physical injuries
9. Rules of evidence and procedure as tools for the protection 135
of survivors/witnesses
10. Sample Sexual Assault Medical Certificate 138
International Protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict
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