Responsibility of Armed Groups for Sexual Violence Against Women During Internal Armed Conflicts: The Case of Iraq

Abstract

Women have suffered in Iraq under totalitarian regimes, foreign occupation and now armed insurgency. The focus of this paper is to determine if International Law is adequate enough to protect the women during internal conflicts. Also to identify any legal mechanisms to protect women from sexual violence in Iraq in times of IRC. This research analyses how international law addresses the problem of sexual violence during armed conflicts, with particular focus on the Geneva Convention (GC, 1949) and its two Additional Protocols as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This research holds that it is necessary to hold armed groups responsible for reparations due to victims of sexual violence, particularly when states lose control over the situations. In this regard more must be done by the Government of Iraq to ensure justice and reparation for victims. This paper highlights the current reality of the situation of women during internal armed conflict in Iraq (as of 2014). The paper also explores the effectiveness of legal mechanisms to protect women from sexual violence in times of conflict, as well as paying attention to the legislation pertinent to the accountability of armed groups.

Keywords

• armed groups
• women
• sexual violence
• internal conflict
• Iraq