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UNITEDNATIONSASSISTANCEMISSIONFORIRAQ(UNAMI)

العـــــراق اعدةــــلمس المـتــحـــدة األمـــم بعــثـــة(یـــونــامي)http://uniraq.org

‘HumanRights,EveryDay,forAllIraqis’

PromotionandProtectionofRightsofVictimsofSexualViolenceCapturedbyISIL/orinAreas

ControlledbyISILinIraq

22August2017

TABLEOFCONTENTSA.Introduction...........................................................................................................................1B.Context..................................................................................................................................1C.Legalframework.....................................................................................................................4

Internationallaw............................................................................................................................4Nationalandregionallaws.............................................................................................................5KurdistanRegionGovernmentmechanisms..................................................................................7

D.Tribalandreligiousattitudestowardswomensubjectedtosexualviolence,includingrape..7E.Humanrightsconcerns...........................................................................................................9

WomenandgirlsunderthecontrolofISIL....................................................................................9Victimsofsexualviolenceincludingrapeandenslavement..........................................................9Reprisalsandactsamountingtocollectivepunishment..............................................................11Healthcareandpregnancy..........................................................................................................12ChildrenborntowomenunderthecontrolofISIL......................................................................13

F.RecommendedActions........................................................................................................13General.........................................................................................................................................13Protectingchildrenfromdiscriminationandadversetreatment................................................15

UNAMI OFFICEOFTHEHIGHCOMMISSIONERFORHUMANRIGHTS Page1of16

PromotionandProtectionofRightsofVictimsofSexualViolenceCapturedbyISIL/orinAreasControlledbyISIL

inIraq

A.Introduction1. Largenumbersofwomenandgirlsbutalsosomemenandboys,mainlyfromIraq’s

ethnic and religious communities, have been subjected to conflict-related sexualviolence1bytheso-calledIslamicStateofIraqandtheLevant(ISIL).

2. ISILhas subjectedwomen,girls,menandboys tovarious formsof sexual violencesuch as rape and sexual enslavement, physical and psychological violence andtrafficking.Womenandgirlshavesuffereddifferentially fromthe impactofarmedconflictingeneral.Itincreasedtheirvulnerabilityandimpairedtheiraccesstobasichumanitarianservicesaswellasdisregardedtheirspecificneeds.Regardlessoftheefforts made, ensuring appropriate care and protection for them remainschallenging.

3. Victimshavetobereintegratedintotheirfamiliesandcommunities;perpetratorsofsexualviolenceshouldbeheldaccountable;andpoliciesshouldbeimplementedtoempowerwomenandgirlsinthepolitical,social,culturalandeconomicspheres.

4. This paper canvases the challenges faced by women and girls who have beensubjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence including physical andpsychological violence. It proposes a number of recommendations that theGovernment of Iraq should consider in order to promote the respect for, and theprotectionoftherightsofwomenandgirlsatalltimesandinallcircumstances.

5. Thispaperisbasedoninformationobtaineddirectlyfromsurvivorsandwitnessesofviolationsandabusesofinternationalhumanrightslawand/orseriousviolationsofinternationalhumanitarianlawgatheredbyUNAMIhumanrightsinvestigators.

6. Informationwasalsoobtainedfromavarietyofsources,includingGovernmentandnon-government agencies and organizations, and United Nations entities. Theviolations and abuses contained in this paper demonstrate the trends of conflict-relatedsexualviolenceperpetratedbyISIL.

7. Victims referred to in this paper include direct survivors of conflict-related sexualviolence and their children, parents and families who were indirectly affected bysuchacts.

B.Context8. InJune2014, ISILsweptacrossnorthernIraq.Sincethen,UNAMIandOHCHRhave

issuedsixreports2ontheprotectionofciviliansinrelationtotheongoingconflictin

1Thetermconflict-relatedsexualviolenceisdefinedunderpara.21.

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PromotionandProtectionofRightsofVictimsofSexualViolenceCapturedbyISIL/orinAreasControlledbyISILinIraq


Iraq,documentingviolationsandabusesagainstmen,womenandchildrenfromallethnicandreligiouscommunities,includingChristians,FailiKurds,Kaka’e,Sabaeans,Shabak, Shi’a Arabs, and Turkmen. These communities have been systematicallytargetedandpersecutedbyISILaspartofanongoingpolicythataimstosuppress,permanently expel, or destroy many of these communities within ISIL areas ofcontrol.3UNAMI/OHCHRhas repeatedlynoted thatmanyof thecrimescommittedby ISILmayamount towarcrimes, crimesagainsthumanityandmayalsopossiblyamount to genocide.4This remains to be determined by an independent andcompetentcourt.

9. ISIL targeted the Yezidi community in particular and demonstrated its intent todestroy them, in whole or in part.5As of August 2016, sources estimated thatbetween2,000 and5,500persons from the Yezidi community havebeen killedbyISIL since 3 August 2014.6According to theMinistry of Endowment and ReligiousAffairs, Office of Yezidi Administrative Affairs, between 3 August 2014 and 2 July2017, approximately 6,417 persons from the Yezidi communitywere abducted byISILmembers (3,547women and 2,870men). By early July 2017, 3048 individualsfrom the Yezidi community had reportedlymanaged to escape from ISIL captivity(1,092 women; 334 men; 819 girls; 803 boys). At the same time, some 3,369

2From5Juneto5July2014,6Julyto10September,11Septemberto10December2014,11December2014to 30 April 2015, 1 May to 31 October 2015, and 1 November 2015 to 30 September 2016. Reports areavailableonwww.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/UNAMIHRReports.aspx3UNAMI/OHCHRwillcontinuetodocumenttheviolationsandabusesperpetratedagainstthesecommunitiesandpublishitsfindingsinfuturereports.4In linewithUNAMI/OHCHR findingsaswell asof theOHCHRFactFindingMission (reportA/HRC/28/18ofMarch 2015). In addition, in August 2014, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) onSexual Violence in Conflict expressed grave concern at “continued reports of actions of violence, includingsexualviolenceagainstwomenandteenagegirlsandboysbelongingtoIraqiminorities,”andremindedpartiestotheconflict“thatactsofsexualviolencearegravehumanrightsviolationscanbeconsideredaswarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity.”Seehttp://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/press-release/iraq-un-officials-call-for-immediate-end-to-sexual-violence-against-iraqi-minorities/. Annual reports of the Secretary-Generalon Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Conflict have also noted the use of sexual violence against Iraqiminorities.See,mostrecently,theReportoftheSecretary-Generalonconflict-relatedsexualviolence,22June2016, S/2016/361/Rev.1, paras. 40-41, available athttp://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2016/361/Rev.1.5InreferencetotheYezidi(whomISILrefertoasmushirkin-thosewhocommitthesinofidolatry/paganism(shirk)),ISILhasmadeitsintentionscleartodestroythepopulationorforciblyconvertthem,boththroughitsactionsbydirectlytargetingthem,aswellasinitspublications.ThesehavebeenexaminedingreaterdetailinOHCHR’s report “ACall forAccountability and Protection: Yezidi Survivors of Atrocities Committed by ISIL”,August 2016, available at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMIReport12Aug2016_en.pdf.See also “They came to destroy”: ISIL Crimes Against the Yazidis, A/HRC/32/CRP.2,http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/CoISyria/A_HRC_32_CRP.2_en.pdf.6OHCHR,“ACallforAccountabilityandProtection:YezidiSurvivorsofAtrocitiesCommittedbyISIL,”pg.7

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individuals from the Yezidi community remained in ISIL captivity, including 1636womanandgirlsand1733menandboys.7

10. WomenandgirlsunderthecontrolofISIL,inparticularwomenfromtheYezidiandotherminority communities, have been especially vulnerable to abuses of humanrights and violation of international humanitarian law, including, inter alia: forceddisplacement; abduction; deprivation of liberty; slavery; 8 cruel, inhumane anddegradingtreatment;forcedreligiousconversion;andsexualassault,rapeandotherformsof sexual violence.As a result of ISIL targetingof civilians andmass killings,manywomenandgirlswhohavesurvivedsuchabusesaredeprivedofthematerialandpsychosocial supportof their families, andare ill-equipped to surviveon theirown.Womenwhowere rapedandsubjected to sexual slaveryandother formsofsexual violenceby ISIL, andchildrenbornasa result, arealso stigmatizedby theirown communities upon their return. In addition to abuses by ISIL, itmust alsobeborneinmindthatthedisplacementofcivilianshasexacerbatedalreadyhighlevelsofdomesticviolencethatexistedbeforethearmedconflictinIraq,andincreasetheriskofsexualviolence.9

11. Additionally, there are also sporadic reports of civilians being abused by armedgroupsfightingagainstISIL.ThisincludesreportsthatindividualswhoarebelievedtohavesupportedortohavebeenaffiliatedwithISILarebeingsubjectedtoreprisals,revenge attacks, and in some cases punishments. Of significant concern, reprisalshave been reported against the family members of individuals who have beenaccusedoraresuspectedofhavingsupportedISIL.Thisexposeswomenandchildrenparticularlytoconsiderableriskofdiscrimination,marginalization,andphysicalharm

12. InOctober2016, Iraqinational forces,KurdishsecurityforcesandaffiliatedmilitiaslaunchedacampaigntoretakeMosul,thelastmajorcityheldbyISILinIraq.Asof24January 2017, Iraqi officials announced that the eastern part of Mosul had beenliberatedfromISILandthebattlewouldnowshifttothewesternbankoftheTigrisRiver.OperationstoretakewestMosulcommencedon17February2017.Between17October 2016 and 3 August 2017, the InternationalOrganization forMigration

7StatisticsprovidedbytheMinistryofEndowmentandReligiousAffairs,OfficeofYezidiAdministrativeAffairs,2July2017.8ISIL itself confirmed that sexual slavery was acceptable regarding female captives. ISIL refers to them as‘slaves’or‘spoilsofwar’inseveralpublicstatements,usingthephrasemamalakataymanukum“thatwhichyourrighthandpossesses.”Forinstance,seeISILDabiq,1435,Issue4:‘TheFailedCrusade’,p.14,availableathttp://media.clarionproject.org/files/islamic-state/islamic-state-isis-magazineIssue-4-the-failedcrusade.pdf.Additionally, in around October 2014, ISIL issued a pamphlet entitled “Questions and Answer on TakingCaptivesandSlaves”.Thedocumentstatesthatitispermissibletohavesexualintercoursewithagirlwhohasnotreachedpuberty,andthatthe“slave”isconsideredasmerelypropertyoftheownerthat,afterhisdeath,couldbedistributedaspartofhisestate.ThedocumentiscitedinEnglishtranslationonthefollowingwebsite:https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/09/05/slavery-isis-rules.9Therearenostatisticsonlevelsofsexualandgender-basedviolenceinIraqwiththeexceptionoftheKR-I,wheretherehasbeenaproactiveeffortbytheKRGtoencouragewomentocomeforwardtoreportincidentsofsuchviolenceandtoprovidethemwithprotectionandsupport.

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estimated 837.900 individuals, and 139.650 families)—some of whom arewomenandchildren—havebeendisplacedfromtheareaasaresultoftheconflict.10

13. With significant areas under the control of ISIL having been reclaimed, it is nowurgenttoconsiderwhatstepsneedtobetakentoensuretheprotection,recovery,reintegration and redress for the thousands of women and girls who have beensubjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence including physical andpsychological violence. Equally important, stepsmust also be taken to ensure theactive participation and engagement of women and girls in ending conflict, inbuilding peace for the future and supporting and facilitating their full and equalparticipationinthepublic,political,andeconomiclifeinapost-ISILIraq.

C.LegalframeworkInternationallaw

14. United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace, andSecurity provides the normative framework on conflict-related sexual violence.NumeroussubsequentSecurityCouncilresolutions,suchasresolutions1820(2008),1888(2009),1889(2009),1960(2010),2106(2013),and2122(2013)haveaddressedsuch topics as conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the special needsofwomenandgirlsinconflictandpost-conflictsituations,andtheimportantrolesthatwomenandgirlscanplayinmaintainingsecurityandpost-conflictpeacebuilding.

15. Most recently, the Security Council adopted resolution 2331 (2016) on Traffickingand Sexual Violence, in which it took special note of crimes committed by ISIL.Resolution2331callsforgreateraccountabilityandaccessofsurvivorstoadequateservicesandsupport,includingreparationprograms.ItalsocallsforincreasedactionbyandamongStatesandtherelevantUnitedNationsentities,includinginformationsharingandjudicialcooperation,topreventandpunishsuchcrimes.

16. Iraq is a party to eight of the nine core international human rights instruments,including:ICCPR(since1971);CEDAW(since1986);CRC(since1994,anditsOptionalProtocolontheinvolvementofchildreninarmedconflictsince2008);ICPPED(since2010);andCAT(since2011).

17. IraqisnotapartytotheRomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC),andtheinternationalcrimesdefinedintheRomeStatutearenotcriminalizedunder itsdomestic law. Iraqhasnotaccepted the ICC jurisdictionover the current situationunderarticle12(3)oftheRomeStatute.

18. TheconflictinIraqbetweenISILandotheraffiliatedarmedgroups,ononeside,andIraqi security forces and pro-Government forces, on the other, constitutes a non-international armed conflict. Accordingly, the parties are required to comply withinternational humanitarian law, in particular common article 3 to the GenevaConventionsandrulesofcustomaryinternationallawapplicabletonon-international

10TheIOMstatisticsathttp://iraqdtm.iom.int/EmergencyTracking.aspx,lastaccessed3August2017.

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armedconflict.Thepartiesarefurtherrequiredtorefrainfromdirectattacksagainstcivilians,andrespectthekeyprinciplesofinternationalhumanitarianlaw,includingtheprohibitionof indiscriminate attacks; theobligation to respect theprinciple ofproportionality; and the obligation to take all feasible precautions to protect thecivilian population against the effects of attacks. The parties are also required toensurespecialprotectionforwomenandchildren.

19. Irrespective of the ongoing armed conflict and the application of internationalhumanitarian law, Iraq remains fully bound by its international human rights lawobligations.

20. International human rights law provides safeguards against sexual violence,includingprotectionfromsexualviolenceasaformoftortureorill-treatmentandasa result of gender-based discrimination. These standards recognize all forms ofsexual violence as a human rights violation, which require States to exercise duediligence to prevent, investigate and prosecute such acts perpetrated by State ornon-State actors.11Moreover, depending on the circumstances, conflict-relatedsexual violence can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide orgrossviolationsofhumanrights.12

21. The term conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), for Security Council Resolution1960 (2010) listing purposes, “refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution,forcedpregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forcedmarriage and anyother form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women,men,girlsorboys that isdirectlyor indirectly linkedtoaconflict.…Thetermalsoencompassestraffickinginpersonswhencommittedinsituationsofconflictforthepurposeofsexualviolence/exploitation.”13

Nationalandregionallaws22. The2005Constitutionof Iraqguarantees fundamental rights to Iraqi citizens,men

and women, including equality before the law, equal treatment before the law(Article 14); treatment with justice in judicial proceedings (Article 19(6));participation in public affairs (Article 20); right to work (Article 22); and thepreservation of the family, the protection ofmotherhood, childhood and old age,and the prohibition of child labor and violence in the family (Article 29). TheConstitutionalso guarantees to all Iraqis, “especiallywomenand children,” “socialand health security,” “basic requirements for living a free and decent life,” and

11See for example: CCPR/C/119/D/2245/2013, CAT/C/37/D/262/2005 (2007); CAT/C/37/D/279/2005 (2007);andCEDAW,GeneralRecommendationNo.35(July2018)ongender-basedviolenceagainstwomen,updatinggeneralrecommendationNo.19andCEDAW,GeneralRecommendationNo.30(2013)onwomeninconflictprevention,conflictandpost-conflictsituations.12Seearticles6,7and8oftheRomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt.13ReportoftheUNSecretary-GeneralonConflict-RelatedSexualViolence(S/2017/249),15April2017,para2.

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income and housing (Article 30), as well as health care (Article 31), care for thepersonswithdisabilities(Article32),andeducation(Article34).

23. Withrespecttospecificlegislation,it isnotedthatthedraftFamilyProtectionLaw,the text ofwhich as currently stands substantively fails tomeet Iraq’s obligationsunderinternationallaw,remainspendingbeforetheCouncilofRepresentatives.Thedraft shelter policy for victims of domestic violence is also still under review. TheCriminalCodeNo.111of1969continuestopermit“honour”asalawfuldefenseincrimes alleging violence against women and family members, even when it isreported thatmany hundreds ofwomendie from so-called “honour” killings eachyear. Additionally, it allows perpetrators to marry their rape victims to quash acriminal case. The Iraqi Criminal Procedures Code (ICPC) no. 23of 1971 views theinitiationofcriminalproceedings inrelationtoanumberofcrimesasthepersonalright of the victim – and it is arguable under Article 3 of ICPC that this includesallegations of rape. In conservative societies such as Iraq,womenwho have beensubjected to rape and other forms of sexual violencemay be unwilling to initiatesuchproceedings.

24. In September 2016, the United Nations, through the Office of the SpecialRepresentative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict, and theGovernment of Iraq signed a Joint Communiqué on Prevention and Response toConflict-Related Sexual Violence. The Communiqué represents an opportunity forstructuredcollaborationbetweentheUnitedNationsandIraqonsixpriorityareas:a) supporting legislative and policy reform to strengthen protection from, andserviceresponsefor,sexualviolencecrimesandtofacilitatedocumentation,returnandreintegrationofIDPs;b)ensuringaccountabilityforsexualviolence;c)ensuringthe provision of services, livelihood support and reparations for survivors andchildren born of rape; d) engaging tribal and religious leaders, and civil society aswellaswomenhumanrightsdefendersinthepreventionofsexualviolencecrimesand facilitating the return and reintegration of survivors; e) ensuring thatconsiderationsrelatedtosexualviolenceareadequatelyreflectedintheworkoftheIraqi Counter-Terrorism Commission, including enhancing the role of women incounter-terrorism efforts; and f) raising awareness and deepening knowledgerelated to CRSV, including through engagementwithmedia and public awarenesscampaigns.Within the Joint Communiqué, theGovernmentof Iraq also requestedthe assistance of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law/SexualViolence in Conflict to provide capacity support on investigating and prosecutingcrimesofsexualviolence.

25. The Iraqi FederalGovernmentand theKurdistanRegionalGovernment (KRG)havedesignatedhigh-levelfocalpointsonCRSVtocooperatewiththeUnitedNationsindeveloping the implementation plan of the Joint Communiqué and will convenerelevantnationalauthorities,includingsecurityinstitutions,justiceauthorities,socialservices,healthauthoritiesandothers.BothfocalpointshavethesupportofPrimeMinisteral-AbadiandKRGPrimeMinisterBarzaniandarelocatedstrategicallyinthe

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Council of Ministers and High Council of Women’s Affairs in Baghdad and Erbilrespectively. UNAMI has also deployed a Senior Women Protection Advisor withfundingprovidedbythe interagencynetworkUNActionAgainstSexualViolence inConflict to support the efforts of the IraqiGovernment and theUnitedNations inaddressingCRSV.Further,inJuly2017,twoworkshopswereco-organizedbyUNAMIand the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for SexualViolence in Conflict that took place in Baghdad and Erbil to discuss theimplementationoftheCommuniquéwithrelevantgovernmentalentities.

26. In theKurdistanRegionof Iraq (KR-I), a numberof laws andamendments to Iraqilegislationaimedatstrengtheningregionalprovisionsrelatedtohumanrightshaverecently been proposed or adopted or have entered into force. These include theLawofProtectionoftheRightofComponentsinKR-INo.5of2015(whichaddressesthe rights of ethnic and religious minorities); the first reading by the KurdistanParliamentofthedraftlawonCombatingHumanTraffickinginKR-I;andtherepealof Article 409 of the Penal Code,whichminimized penalties for the killing on thebasisof“honour”bymalerelatives.TheselawsandproposedamendmentsarepartofaseriesofconcertedeffortsoverrecentyearstopromotetheruleoflawinKR-I,specifically relating to the protection of women and children from all forms ofviolence. Despite these positive steps, laws are not often supported byimplementationmechanisms,andeconomicconditionshaveseverelyrestrictedtheavailabilityof resources for implementation. Furthermore, itmustbenoted that apoliticalimpasseintheKR-IParliamenthascausedthelegislativeprocesstobeputonholdindefinitely.

KurdistanRegionGovernmentmechanisms27. TheKRGhasestablishedanumberofentitiesthathavecompetencetopromotethe

respectandprotectionofwomen’srightsandtoaddresstheneedsofwomenwhohavesufferedfromabusesatthehandsofISIL.TheseincludetheestablishmentbytheMinistryofMartyrsandAnfalAffairsofaHighCommittee for IdentificationofGenocide Crimes against Residents of the Kurdistan Area, tasked with receivingcomplaints from victims, investigations the cases, maintaining a data base andprovidingpsychosocialsupporttovictims.OtherentititesincludemechanismswithintheMinistryofHealth,theMinistryoftheInterior,theMinistryofLaborandSocialAffairsandtheMinistryofEndowmentandReligiousAffairs,inparticularitsOfficeofYezidiAdministrativeAffairs.

D. Tribal and religious attitudes towards women subjected to sexualviolence,includingrape

28. InMarch2016,representativesofthemaintribesinNinewaGovernoratereacheda“Tribal Agreement,” endorsed by the Provincial Council of the governorate,whichpurports to apply traditional justice mechanisms and customs. The Agreementincludes a provision for the forced eviction of families connected to ISIL and thetransfer of their property to victims as reparations. In discussions withUNAMI/OHCHR, tribal representativessaid that theseizureofpropertywouldhelp

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tomitigateotherformsofretributionagainstfamilieswhosupportedISIL,andthatthe redistribution of property would serve as “mental therapy” to victims andfacilitate the returnofdisplacedpersons fromNinewa.UNAMI/OHCHRhighlightedthattheforcedevictionof familiesof ISILsuspectsamountstoaformofcollectivepunishmentandiscontrarytoIraqiandinternationallaw.TheTribalAgreementalsoprovides for the death penalty in the case of “serious crimes,” and considers thatcrimescommittedagainstwomenmustnotbecoveredbyanyamnesty.TheTribalAgreement requires that those who committed less serious crimes should beimprisoned, including financial supporters/fundraisers of ISIL activities, those whodestroyed cultural and religious sites, and collaborators. Finally, the TribalAgreement specifies that reconciliation initiatives in Ninewa must take place inconsultationwithtriballeaders.

29. InFebruary2017,agroupofIraq’sSheikhsandtriballeadersissuedan“IraqiTribesDocumentforCommunalPeace.”14Amongotherprovisionsrelatingtopost-conflictreconciliation,thedocumentencouragesa“remedyforsocietalinjusticeimposedonthe raped women.” It expresses that womenwho have been raped or who havebeensubjectedtootherformsofsexualviolenceare“victimswhodeservesupportfrom the humanitarian organizations and community (psychological and moralsupport)andsympathybecausetheirwill[hasbeen]stolen.”

30. AlsoinFebruary2017,Iraq’sDiwanofSunniEndowments,IraqiSupremeCouncilofFatwa, issued a ruling entitled “Islam’s Position on Raped Women.”15It providesreligious commentary on the roles ofmen (i.e., thosewho commit rape),womenwhohave been raped, and society’s relation to both.With respect to amanwhocommits rape without believing it was ‘religiously permissible,’ he is to beconsidered “a fornicator who is further practicing banditry and mischief againstsociety,”andsoshouldbesubjecttotherelevantQuranicpunishments.Further,aman who commits rape while believing it was religiously permissible is to beconsidered“adisbelieverandapostatewhosekillingisauthorized.”Withrespecttowomenwho have been raped, the ruling reiterates that a womanwho has beenforced“inanyform”cannotbeconsideredas‘sinful’norshouldshebepunishedinany way; “rather, she must be sympathized with.” Finally, the ruling states thatsociety and the families of victims should: i) protect them and take measures tomitigatetheeffectsoftheattack,suchaspsychologicalandmedicalcare,ii)refrainfrom blaming the victim, and iii) stop “bringing reproach” upon the victim or“disgracingher/theirfamily(ies).”

14IraqiTribesDocumentforCommunalPeace,Para.1815Islam'sPositiononRapeofWomen,RepublicofIraq,DewanofSunniEndowments,IraqiSupremeCouncilofFatwa,Ref.:1,10February,2017,Part4

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E.HumanrightsconcernsWomenandgirlsunderthecontrolofISIL

31. UNAMI/OHCHR has consulted with local community leaders to understand theirviews regarding the treatment of women and girls who were married to ISILmembers. According to them, where a woman consented to the marriage, thematrimonial contract could be confirmed subsequently in the federal court ifneeded;this would serve not to recognize ISIL as an entity that had originallyendorsed the contract, but rather to recognize the contract ofmarriage betweentwoconsentingadultsinthepresenceoftwowitnessesunderIraqilaw.Whilesuchconfirmationmay be controversial both in terms of the law and Shari’a, religiousleaders havenoted that the failure to do so could lead to accusations of adulteryagainstpeoplewhowere‘married’inareasundertheso-called‘authority’ofISIL(asthese marriages would not be recognized under Iraqi law unless ratified by civilcourts) andwould potentially lead to children of suchmarriages being classed as‘illegitimate’underIraqilaw.

32. WhereawomanwasforcedtomarryamemberofISILagainstherwill,evenwhereamarriage contract was signed, such a contract would not be valid unless it wasconsummated by sexual intercourse.16If the marriage was consummated, thecontractcouldbeannulledbya federal civil courtunderarticle16of thePersonalStatus Law of 1917. In this case, the woman could have the marriage contractconfirmedbyacivilcourt,registeranychildrenbornpursuanttothatcontract,andthenhavethecontractannulledinasecondsubsequentcourtcase.

Victimsofsexualviolenceincludingrapeandenslavement33. Withrespecttowomenandgirlswhohavebeensubjectedtosexualenslavement,

rape and other forms of sexual violence, the primary concern is to ensure theiraccess toappropriatemedical,psychosocial, financialandothermeansof support.Followingtheseimmediateneeds, Iraqhastheduty,pursuanttodomestic lawandtocoreinternationalhumanrightsinstrumentstowhichisaparty,toensurethatallvictimsoftheseviolationshaveaccesstojusticeandreparations.17

34. Thisobligation includesensuringaccountabilityof theallegedperpetratorsof suchcrimes through trials conducted before independent and impartial tribunalsestablished by law in accordance with the law and facts of the case and in fullrespectofdueprocessandfairtrialstandards.Inaddition,theStatemustensurethat

16This refers to situationswhereawoman signsamarriage contractagainstherwill orwherea contract issigned“onbehalf”ofawomanbyherfamilymembers.Consummationbysexualintercourseisthenrequiredto“concretize”themarriagecontract.However,thecouplemaynotnecessarilylivetogetherorimmediatelyconsummatethemarriagebysexualintercourse,inwhichcasethecontractremainsinvalid.17These include, for example, Iraq’s LawNo. 28 of 2012 Combating Trafficking in Persons, and the right ofequalprotectionof the lawunderArticle26of the InternationalCovenantonCivil andPoliticalRights. Theobligations of States with respect to reparations have been further examined in “Guidance Note of theSecretary-General: Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence,” June 2014, available athttp://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Press/GuidanceNoteReparationsJune-2014.pdf.

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allproceedingsareconductedinagendersensitivemannersoasnottoperpetuatethevictimizationorto ‘revictimise’womenandgirlssubjectedtosuchcrimes.Thisincludesensuring: i) thatmechanismsareput inplace that facilitatewomen’sandchildren’saccesstojustice; ii)thatfemalepoliceofficersundertakeinterviewswithwomen and childrenwho have been subjected to sexual violence; iii) appropriatepoliciesareinplacetoensurethatwomenandchildrenarerespectedandprotectedthroughoutsuchproceedings;iv)thattheproceedingsareconductedwiththebestinterestsofthewomanorchildastheprimaryconsideration,andv)thatthewomenandchildrenconcernedhaveaccesstoappropriatepsycho-social,medicalandotherappropriatesupportandmeansofprotection.

35. Ensuring individual criminal accountability for persons accused of perpetrating orhaving contributed to sexual and other forms of violence against women andchildrenunderISILwillbeofparamountimportance.However,inlightoftheexistinggapsinthelegalandpolicyframeworksofthecriminaljusticesystem,whichlargelyfailstoensuretheappropriaterespectandprotectionofwomenandchildrenwhohavebeensubjectedtosexualandotherformsofviolence,significantlegislativeandinstitutional changes are needed to facilitate access to justice, and the care andprotection of victims through such proceedings. In this regard, informal justicemechanisms which are fully compliant with relevant international human rightsstandardsmaybeconsideredtocomplementformaljusticeasameanstoensuringadequateaccountabilityandreparationsprocesses.

36. The Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation forVictimsofGrossViolationsofInternationalHumanRightsLawandSeriousViolationsof International Humanitarian Law,18adopted by the General Assembly in 2005,provide a normative framework in this regard. The Guidelines address, inter alia,treatmentofvictims,accesstojustice,reparations,accesstoinformation,andnon-discrimination.Inparticular,theGuidelineselaboratetherighttoreparationsintheform of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees ofnon-repetition.

37. Withrespecttothetribalagreementsmentionedabove,UNAMI/OHCHRexpressesserious concerns with those aspects of the Tribal Agreement that call for actsamounting to collective punishments (including against women suspected ofassisting ISIL),exile,andthedeathpenalty.ThoseaspectsoftheTribalAgreement,which focusonensuring the rehabilitationofwomenwhohavebeen subjected tosexual and other forms of violence by ISIL are welcomed, as is the rejection ofamnesty for crimes committed againstwomen.However, the Agreementmust beappliedcarefully toensure that itdoesnot furthervictimizewomenandgirlswhowerevictimisedinareasunderthecontrolofISIL.

18 A/RES/60/147, 16 December 2005, available athttp://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/RemedyAndReparation.aspx

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38. UNAMIhas comeacross caseswhere familieswhopaid for the releaseofwomenwhohadbeenenslavedbyISIL,weresufferingfromcrushingeconomicburdens.Insomeof thesecases, itwas found that thestress incurredby this financialburdenresultedin increasedlevelsofdomesticviolence.Vocationaltraining,microfinance,andmaterialsupportshouldbemadeavailableinordertomitigatethisoccurrence.Additionally, itwillbenecessary for theGovernmentof Iraq toconsideramendinglegislation and developing other policies that will ensurewomen and children (ortheirlegalguardians)canclaimreparationsfromtheState,includingreimbursementforanyfundspaidfortheirrelease.

39. Womenwhohavebeenenslavedmayneedspecialassistance,inadditiontomedicaland psychosocial care, to facilitate their repatriation or reunification with theirfamiliesandcommunities.Thisrefers,forexample,toassistancewiththereissuanceofofficialor legaldocumentationthatmayhavebeenlostordestroyed,andtravelrelatedexpenses.

40. Women and girls must be fully respected and protected by their families,communities,andtheGovernmentofIraq.Wherethereisariskofharmfromfamilyorcommunity,includingso-calledhonourcrimes,womenandchildrenmustbegivenimmediateprotectionwhetherthroughrelocation,shelteraccommodationorotherappropriateoptions.

Reprisalsandactsamountingtocollectivepunishment41. Womenwhoweremarriedtomembersof ISIL,withorwithouttheirconsent,may

be subject to discrimination and forms of collective punishment based on thesuspicionofhavingcooperatedwithISIL.Inthisrespect,assistancewillberequiredat the local level, includingengagementwith tribal leaders, toensure thatwomenwhoweremarriedtomembersofISILarenotautomaticallytreatedasaccomplices,andthatanywomenwhoareaccusedofsupportingISILaretreatedfairlyandonthebasisofestablishingindividualcriminalresponsibility.Inthisrespect,UNAMI/OHCHRexpressesconcernwiththetribalcustomsobservedthroughoutIraqrelatingtotheforcedevictionoffamiliesofpersonssuspectedofcollaboratingwithISIL.

42. Similarly, with respect to the March 2016 Tribal Agreement described above,UNAMI/OHCHRconsidersunlawful itsprovisionsproviding for theexileofpersonssuspectedofassistingISIL,andtheseizureanddistributionoftheirproperty,insofaras this amounts to collectivepunishment.Other tribal agreementshavebeenalsoendorsed, including July-2016Anbar Covenant endorsed by representatives of thewestern tribesofAnbarGovernorate,November-2016HeetCovenantendorsedbytribal leaders in Heet sub-district of Anbar, and May-2017 al-Sabaawi agreementendorsed by al-Sabaawi tribal representatives in al-Qayyarah sub-district ofMosuldistrict. These agreements include provisions of a traditional and tribal nature,

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known historically in Iraq for settling criminal affairs away from any judicialoversight19.

43. Provisionsincludevagueinterpretationsof‘accusations’and‘punishments’broughtagainst ‘suspects’,whichcould leadtoseriousbreachesoftheconstitutionalrightsofIraqicitizens,aswellinternationalhumanrightsobligationsinrelationtofairtrialsand equality before the law. Some agreements furthermore establish committeescomposedoflegalexpertswhowouldassesscasesbroughtbeforethem,anddecideonthefateofthe‘accused’persons.Thesecommitteesconstituteparallelentitiestothe judicial and extra-judicial Statemechanisms thatwould provide for ‘decisions’againstaccusedpersonsamidstlackofanyreferraltoanIraqijudicialorlegalbody.Astheystand,thesetribalagreementsunderminetheruleoflawinapostISILfragilephase,mayamounttocollectivepunishmentagainstthousandsofpersons,andfuelacycleofviolenceandhatredthatwouldhaltattemptsofagenuineandsustainablereconciliation.

44. Inapositivedevelopment,inMarch2017,PrimeMinisteral-Abadistatedinapressconferencethat ISIL familiesareprotectedandthatperpetratorswouldbetreatedundertheumbrellaofruleoflaw.

Healthcareandpregnancy45. InitscapacityasaStatepartytotheCEDAWandotherinternationaltreaties,andin

accordancewiththehealth-relatedrightsenshrinedinArticles30and31oftheIraqiConstitution, the Government of Iraq has obligations pertaining to health caretowards women and girls. . As part of these obligations, the Government of Iraqthereforemustprovideaccesstothefullrangeofmedicalandpsychologicalsupportand sexual and reproductivehealth information towomenand girls; to guaranteefull, unhindered access to services, information and assistance withoutdiscrimination; and to ensure that third parties do not obstruct enjoyment of therighttohealthbywomenandgirls.Ineveryrespect,theGovernmentofIraqshouldfocuson appropriate formsof psychosocial,medical, financial, andother formsofsupport, meaning community-based care, which empowers women and girls toreachtheirmaximumpotential.

46. Iraq must also respect, protect and fulfil the right of women to access specificeducational information to ensure the health and wellbeing of their families,includinginformationandadviceonfamilyplanning.Assistanceandsupportmustbeoffered topregnantwomenandgirlson the full rangeof their reproductive rightsandmakeavailableservicestoassistthemwithwhateverchoicestheymake.With

19Theseagreementsstipulate,inparticular,thatfamiliesperceivedtobeaffiliatedwithISILbeforciblyevictedoutoftheirplacesoforigintowardsunspecifiedlocationsortodisplacementcamps.TheyalsopreventactivemembersofISILandtheirfamiliesfromreturningtotheirplacesoforigin.

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respecttothelatter,theGovernmentofIraqneedstoclarifywhatlawisapplicableto the termination of unwanted pregnancies for women and girls who weresubjected to sexual violence, ensuring that the law and its implementation are inaccordancewiththerightsofwomenandgirlsundernationalandinternationallaw.

ChildrenborntowomenunderthecontrolofISIL47. TheIraqiGovernmentmustensurethatchildrenborntowomenwhoweremarried

to persons affiliated with ISIL are not subject to, and are fully protected from,discrimination, marginalisation and/or other forms of violence and abuse.. Thisincludes policies to ensure the appropriate registration of birth (withoutdiscriminatoryregistrationrelatingtothefather’sidentity,suchas“ISILterrorist”,orregistering a child as “Muslim” when the mother comes from a non-Muslimcommunity based on assumptions of the religion of the father, etc.) in order toensure that such children have all the legal rights and protections owed to anycitizen and to prevent other risks such as statelessness, abuse, marginalization,exploitation,andtrafficking.Inaddition,itisessentialthattheGovernmentconsiderpolicies to support caregivers, such as enabling and supporting foster care andorphanages, particularly those that are providing care for childrenwhomay havespecialneeds.

48. AsofDecember2016,UNHCRhad identifiednearly800childrenwhosebirthshadbeen registered by ISIL in areas under its control. Documentation issuedby ISIL isgenerally not accepted by the Government of Iraq or the Kurdistan RegionalGovernment. It isexpected thatmanymorechildrenborn towomen inareas thatwereunder thecontrolof ISILwillhavenodocumentationatall. Toobtainanewbirthcertificate,itisrequiredforparentstopresentproofofmaritalstatus,andfortwowitnessestoconfirmthebirthofthechild.ThisproceduremakesitexceedinglydifficulttoregisterthebirthofchildrenborntowomeninareasthatwereunderthecontrolofISIL,particularly(i)incaseswheredocumentswereissuedbyISILorlostordestroyed;(ii)whereeitherparentisdeadorotherwiseabsentormissing;(iii)wheretheidentityofthefatherremainsunknown,suchasincasesofrapeorotherformsof sexual violence (iv)wherea childhasbeenabandoneddue to stigma;v)wheremobilityisrestricted(suchasinIDPcampsorwherenocivilstatusofficesorcourtsoperate); or (vi)where families lack funds to either travel to locationswhere civilstatusofficesandcourtsoperate,orpayforthenecessarylegalfees.Itisalsonotedthat additional requirements for registration, such as blood samples, are notconsistentacrosslocations.

F.RecommendedActionsGeneralEnsuring accountability and ending impunity, and actions to enhance the protection ofwomen and children from sexual violence, and facilitating the appropriate care andprotectionofwomenandchildrensubjectedtosuchviolence

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TheGovernmentofIraqshouldconsider:

• Becoming party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court andreferringthecurrentarmedconflictinIraqtotheCourt’sjurisdiction

• Adoptingalegislativeframeworktoallowdomesticcourtstohavejurisdictionoverinternationalcrimesandprosecuteperpetratorsofmostseriouscrimes,namely,warcrimes,crimesagainsthumanityandgenocide.

• Amending the criminal justice legislation and enacting other laws and policies toensurethatdueprocessandfairtrialstandards(asrequiredbytheConstitutionofIraqandInternationallawbindingonIraq)arerespectedandprotected

• ReviewingandamendingtheexistingCriminalJustice lawsandpoliciestofacilitateaccess to justice by women and children who have been subjected to rape, andotherformsofsexualandphysicalviolence.Fullycriminalizingtheactscommittedbythe perpetrators and adopting laws and policies that promote their care andprotection and guarantee their access to appropriate support services, andwhichalso facilitate and promote the return and reintegration into their families andcommunitiesinfullrespectandprotectionoftheirrights

• Reviewingandrepealingexistingcriminallawsandpoliciesthatpermit“honour”asmitigationforcrimesofviolencecommittedagainstwomenandchildrenandotherfamily members, as well as other provisions that operate discriminatorily againstwomenandchildrenorthatimpair,hinderorpreventtheiraccesstojustice

• Instituting judicial panels charged with documenting crimes and serious humanrights violations and abuses perpetrated in connection with the ongoing armedconflictinIraqbasedonjudicialstandardssoastosupportprosecutionswheretheperpetratorscanbeidentified(andfallwithintheState’sjurisdiction),andwhichwillfacilitatethereferralofvictimsofsuchcrimes,humanrightsviolationsandabuses,particularlywomenandchildrenwhohavebeensubjectedtorape,sexualviolence,and other forms of physical and psychological violence, to appropriate medical,psychosocial,financialandotherappropriatesupportservices

• Instituting specialized training programmes for judges, prosecutors and lawenforcementofficialsoninternationalhumanrights,humanitarian,andcriminallaw;forensicmethodology;investigationofSGBV;andprotectionofvictimsofSGBV

• Instituting specialized training programmes for judges, prosecutors and lawenforcement officials on gender aspects of law enforcement and on specializedproceduresfordealingwithvictimisedchildren,andonpoliciesprovidingimprovedaccesstojusticebywomenandchildren

• Instituting specialized training programmes for judges, prosecutors and lawenforcementofficialsonfairtrialrights,dueprocess,andconditionsofdetentiontoensure thatwomen suspected (or convicted) of assisting ISIL are screened and/or

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detained in amanner consistent with their rights, and that their families are notsubjectedtoanyformofretaliationorcollectivepunishment

• EstablishinganetworkoflawyersandlawstudentstrainedtoprovideprobonolegalservicesandadviceforvictimsofSGBV

• Supporting theestablishmentof intra-communalnetworksofwomen subjected toSGBVandotherformsofviolenceasameansofsupportingoutreachandfacilitatingtheiraccesstovocationaltrainingandgeneralsupportservices

• Providingtrainingformedicalandpsychologicalprofessionals,schoolteachers,andcaregivers on the human rights and special needs of child victims of SGBV,particularly children fathered by ISIL members; in addition to training oftraditional/community based caregivers such as midwives, on human rights andspecialneedsofwomenvictimsofSGBV.

• Streamliningprocedurestofacilitateaccessbysurvivorsto legal,humanitarianandothersupportservices

• Implementing public information campaigns to raise public awareness of theavailability of, and accessibility to, specialized services for women and childrenvictimsofSGBVandother formsofsexualviolence, includingtheestablishmentoftelephone hotlines for counselling and support services; implement publicinformation campaigns to raise public awareness on SGBV and domestic violence,aimedatprotectingwomenandchildrenatrisk,andpromoteaccountability

• Establishinginformationandcounselingservicestofacilitatethereunificationofandsupporttoseparatedfamilies

• Harmonising relevant laws on adoption, safe termination of unwanted pregnancy,marriageregistrationandchildbirthinaccordancewithinternationalstandardsandbestpractices

• Supportingeffortsforreconciliationamongethnicgroupscenteredonhumanrightsand confidence buildingmeasures between conflicting communities and betweenthosecommunitiesandtheGovernment,withaparticularfocusonthe integrationofmarginalizedgroupswithinthesecommunities,womenandchildren,andpersonswithdisabilities

• Institutinggenderawarenesstrainingfor IraqiSecurityforcesandKurdistanRegionSecurityforcesaswellasotherlawenforcementauthorities

• ImplementingfullythecommitmentssetoutintheJointCommuniquébetweentheGovernment of Iraq and the United Nations on the Prevention and Response toConflict-RelatedSexualViolence.

ProtectingchildrenfromdiscriminationandadversetreatmentTheGovernmentofIraqshouldconsider:

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• Streamlining, simplifying,andsystematizing therulesandregulations in relation toregistration of births across all locations and consider institutional reforms tofacilitateaccesstodocumentation

• Expanding the availability of alternative civil status offices where applications fordocumentationorregistrationscanbemade

• Ensuringthatchildrencanberegisteredwiththestatus(intermsofpersonalstatusand national identity law) of their mothers to avoid negative social ramifications,discrimination and potential exploitation of children born out of wedlock or whowerefatheredbypersonsaffiliatedwithISIL(whetherthemarriagewasconsentualornot)

• Refraining from recording the religion of a child based on assumptions about thereligionofthefather(forexample,recordingchildrenas“Muslim”basedonlyonthebeliefthatthefatherswereISILmembers)

• Refrainingfromrecordingonachild’sbirthcertificatesinformationaboutthefatherthatcouldexposethechildtodiscrimination,marginalizationandpotentialviolence(forexample,thatthefatherwasanISILfighter)

END

PromotionandProtectionofRightsofVictimsofSexualViolenceCapturedbyISIL/orinAreasControlledbyISIL

inIraq

UNAMI/OHCHRBaghdad,Iraq

www.uniraq.org/www.ohchr.org