EXPERT ADVICE

To strengthen the capacities and know-how of all those involved in the fight against and prevention of sexual violence linked to armed conflicts WWoW offers expertise to institutional players and development agencies.

WWoW sees itself as an expert agency (Think Tank Do Tank) providing reflection based on field experience. The fight against the use of conflict-related sexual violence involves dialogue between specialist organisations and national and international authorities. Putting an end to sexual violence requires an understanding of the geopolitical issues and the societal and legal problems specific to each conflict.

In our view, it is imperative to understand the underlying causes of the use of sexual violence, including the environment, the territory and the populations involved. It is all of these elements and their interactions that make it possible to identify the issues at stake in the conﬂits and to propose appropriate, long-term solutions.

WWoW has developed expertise and know-how in social cohesion, gender diagnostics, the fight against violent extremism, conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity in the implementation of international programmes. It has established itself as one of the leading NGOs on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The NGO can be contacted at any time for its expertise and consultancy services. WWoW has an extensive network of partners operating in more than 50 countries, offering a significant added benefit. The organisation has already carried out more than 15 consultancies for the European Union, Interpol, AFD, GiZ and governments such as the Netherlands. To prevent and protect survivors of sexual violence linked to conﬂits, we offer training for professionals concerned (police officers, magistrates, doctors, humanitarian workers, etc.). Our training is also aimed at people who come into contact with survivors but who are not professionals involved in their care, or those wishing to expand their knowledge (journalists, students, lawyers, teachers, etc.).

Drawing on its experience in national and international criminal courts, WWoW also provides legal expertise to survivors of sexual violence, as well as to the judiciary in their work of investigating and prosecuting international crimes.

THE SERVICES OFFERED

Advice for national and international public institutions
Training and capacity building for different actors: institutions, civil society organisations, rights defenders, etc.
Public interventions: conferences, media, education, etc.
Legal support
BackUp: use under license

All financial income goes directly into the NGO's budget. In 2024, WWoW will offer various specific training modules open to the general public.

EXAMPLE OF CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES

For professionals working with victims :

acquire knowledge about the different forms of sexual violence, their mechanisms and consequences.
get to know best practices to better identify, support and refer victims of sexual violence (the words and attitudes to adopt during an interview, drawing up attestations and certificates, setting up a network of partners, etc.).
acquire broader knowledge of the essential concepts of human rights, international criminal law and transitional justice, or techniques for documenting crimes and interviewing victims and perpetrators.
As part of the deployment of its BackUp tool, WWoW is also responsible for training the local liaisons on the ground in the use of BackUp and digital security.

Objectives: to strengthen the skills and capabilities of professionals in the care of victims of conflict-related sexual violence, and to enable professionals in the field to become autonomous and agents of change in their countries.

For non-professionals :

acquire tools for understanding and analysing the issues involved in sexual violence: in particular, knowledge of the different forms of sexual violence, their mechanisms and their economic, social and political consequences.
acquire knowledge that is useful in their profession, enabling them to disseminate information that contributes to an understanding of this phenomenon.

Objectives: to provide tools for understanding and analysing the issues involved in sexual violence, to understand its economic, social and political consequences and to acquire practical know-how to prevent re-traumatisation.

THE PREFERRED APPROACH

Content adapted to each context to provide theoretical and practical training appropriate to the needs and requirements of survivors and professionals.
Personalised support, in the form of mentoring, as well as the transmission of simple tools and best practices to ensure that these training courses are truly effective and produce changes in practice among professionals.
Empowerment of local players.

Legal support for a Zimbabwean survivor of sexual violence

WWoW provided legal support to one of the survivors of war rape in Zimbabwe and, alongside Zimbabwean lawyers, took her case to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. As a result, the Zimbabwean government was convicted by the Supreme Court of dereliction of duty. This emblematic case has become a symbol, as it was the first time the State has been held responsible (through the inaction of its police) for the rape of this survivor and the birth of her daughter as a result. The State was ordered to pay financial compensation to the survivor Mildred and her daughter.

Capacity-building for lawyers in Kasaï Central

In March 2023, WWoW provided training for lawyers in Kasai Central, covering the main principles of international humanitarian law and, above all, techniques for documenting and interviewing victims. The Kasai region experienced a serious crisis between 2016 and 2019, following the revolt of the Kamuina Nsapu militia. Serious atrocities were committed and the widespread use of sexual violence was denounced by the United Nations. Despite a climate of impunity, lawyers are trying to do their job in very difficult conditions. Following this training, WWoW produced training materials based on Congolese law, so that they would become operational and accessible tools for all the lawyers trained. By equipping these lawyers, WWoW is supporting them in their work and their determination to deliver justice, in order to build a stable and sustainable peace in the Kasai region.

Training Libyan prosecutors, lawyers and rights defenders

In 2017, in partnership with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, WWoW trained Libyan activists working on the documentation of international crimes committed in the country since the 2011 revolution. The training included techniques for documenting international crimes and interviewing victims of serious human rights violations. It also included a section on national and international prosecutions, with a particular focus on universal jurisdiction mechanisms.

As a result of this training, a universal jurisdiction complaint was filed in France, admissible before the Paris Court of First Instance and currently under investigation.

This training is also a continuation of the filming of the documentary Libya: Anatomy of a crime, directed by Cécile Allegra (2017), which follows the documentation work carried out by the network of activists deployed on the ground, in collaboration with WWoW (Broadcast by ARTE in September 2018).

ISRAËL

Attaque du 7 octobre 2023 et violences sexuelles