We call on the Secretary General of the United Nations to list relevant actors associated with the Russian Federation as parties credibly suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence.
In the Annex to the Annual Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on CRSV, state forces credibly suspected of committing CRSV are listed.
The relevant actors of Russian Federation, including the Russian Armed Forces, Russian National Guard, Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), and Federal Security Service (FSB) have never been listed.
Many survivors in Ukraine have spoken publicly about their experiences of sexual violence by Russian Federation personnel, courageously risking personal consequences in an effort to secure justice and prevent future harm. Their testimonies have recently been affirmed by the European Court of Human Rights, which found a volley of evidence since 2014 for the widespread and systematic use of sexual violence by actors affiliated with the Russian Federation. The Court concluded that these acts constituted a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, amounting to both torture and inhuman and degrading treatment.
We strongly believe that listing relevant actors of the Russian Federation is not only warranted but essential to maintaining the authority of the UN’s CRSV accountability system. We are joined by Dr Albina Basysta, Alumni Network of Ukrainian Men who Survived Captivity and Torture, Andreiev Family Foundation, Mr Andrii Kostin, Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation, Eastern-Ukrainian Center of Civil Initiatives, Global Survivors Fund, La Strada Ukraine, Legal Action Worldwide, Media Initiative for Human Rights, Numo Sisters!, SEMA Ukraine, Synergy for Justice, Truth Hounds, Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association “Jurfem”, Zmina Human Rights Center, 29th December in writing directly to the Secretary General.
