The report highlights reports of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and gender-based violence during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022. It explains that although the UN and Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office have reported hundreds of cases, experts agree these numbers are only a fraction of the true scale due to survivors’ reluctance to report and limited access to Russian-occupied territories. Victims face significant barriers, including inadequate legal frameworks, fear of stigma or retraumatization, and limited survivor-centered support. While Ukraine has taken steps to address CRSV, including establishing a special investigative unit and improving legal definitions, much work remains to ensure accountability and provide adequate support, particularly for marginalized groups like LGBTIQ+ survivors.

This blog pos chronicles a historic roundtable at the International Criminal Court in May 2023 that brought together 20 feminist and LGBTIQ human rights activists with ICC prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan and other senior members of his office, in pursuit of new avenues to justice. Outright International and its partner organizations from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Colombia, and Bangladesh were among those who attended the convening.