JUSTICE AND FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY
Why a dedicated Justice Department?
Since its creation, WWoW has established itself as a key actor in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence. Its core mission has always been to combat the impunity of these crimes by supporting survivors in their access to justice and strengthening the capacities of both civil society and institutional actors. While this judicial dimension has so far been integrated transversally across all our projects, the opening of a dedicated department in 2025 marks a new strategic milestone.
This structural development aims to achieve three complementary objectives:
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Strengthening our role in judicial proceedings, both in France and internationally;
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Developing projects specifically focused on access to justice;
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Enhancing the expertise we provide to institutions and professionals.
This department is at the heart of our mission: documenting, training, and supporting. It anchors our action in a long-term perspective of transforming judicial responses to mass sexual violence.
An operational anchor in France and abroad
The Justice Department operates within the framework of cases pursued under universal jurisdiction or direct jurisdiction, in collaboration with national courts and relevant international mechanisms. It mobilizes our experts to engage in legal proceedings and supports victims throughout their judicial journey. It also strengthens WWoW’s capacity to initiate or support legal actions beyond advocacy and assistance roles.
At the international level, the department integrates judicial components into our funded projects. This includes support for investigations, legal documentation of crimes, the development of solid case files, and connections with national or international justice mechanisms.
This approach positions WWoW as a bridge between the field, institutions, and judicial systems.
Training, Documenting, Supporting
WWoW has developed specialized expertise in identifying, analyzing, and documenting conflict-related sexual violence, including those perpetrated by non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations. The Justice Department leverages this expertise to train professionals—including judges, prosecutors, investigators, prison officers, and social workers—on the specific nature of these crimes and the challenges of prosecuting them.
For the 2024-2025 period, this approach will be implemented through:
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Training dozens of prosecutors and investigators within international partnerships;
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Supporting prison and probation officers in addressing issues related to radicalized individuals and gender-based violence committed by groups such as Daesh and Boko Haram.
Producing Legal Knowledge
The Justice Department also plays a role in research and publication. It produces legal analyses, policy briefs, and academic or institutional contributions on issues related to the legal recognition of sexual violence, the evolution of case law, systemic barriers to justice, and the effective implementation of victims' rights.
Emblematic projects
Legal support in Zimbabwe
Supporting a survivor and her daughter born of wartime rape to obtain the historic condemnation of the State of Zimbabwe for the responsibility of its agents.
Training and documentation of crimes in Libya
Collaboration with activists to document international crimes and file universal jurisdiction claims. An admissible complaint is currently before the French courts.