Charles Adeogun-Phillips, a former prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, emphasizes the importance of the landmark ruling during the Rwandan genocide trials which recognized rape as a form of torture. He recalls how the first convict, Jean-Paul Akayesu, was sentenced for his role in orchestrating atrocities against the Tutsi ethnic group, marking the first legal acknowledgment of sexual violence as an act of genocide in court. This ruling not only set a precedent for future international trials but also underscored the severe implications of sexual violence in conflict situations.

Recently, the issue of sexual violence in conflict has resurfaced as a pressing concern, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres issuing warnings to Israel and Russia regarding reports of sexual violence by their security forces. Adeogun-Phillips participated in the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Malaysia, where he reiterated the need for accountability and awareness surrounding this ongoing issue in warfare. By bringing attention to the systemic nature of sexual violence, the aim is to foster greater awareness and push for stronger legal frameworks to address such violations in modern conflicts.

The conversation surrounding sexual violence in warfare is not just about historical contexts but has immediate implications for humanitarian law and the protection of human rights. As global awareness increases, there is a call to action for governments and international organizations to intervene and prevent such abuses, ensuring that the horrors experienced during conflicts like the Rwandan genocide are not repeated. Adeogun-Phillips’s insights serve as a reminder of the critical role that legal accountability plays in combating sexual violence in war and the necessity of an ongoing discourse regarding the treatment of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators.