ODIHR launches first ever guidance on preventing sexual violence in detention

Understanding the root causes of, and dynamics involved in, sexual and gender-based violence in the context of detention in order to improve protection strategies was the focus of an event held on 23 September 2019 in Warsaw on the margins of the OSCE’s annual human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM).

The launch of Preventing and Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Places of Deprivation of Liberty: Standards, Approaches and Examples from the OSCE region, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), was attended by 60 representatives of OSCE participating States, civil society and organizations working on criminal justice issues. Experts from Just Detention International and Penal Reform International joined ODIHR specialists for the opening discussions.  

“People who have been deprived of their liberty are some of the least visible in the world, and their experiences extend far beyond the prison walls”, said Graziella Pavone, Human Rights, Gender and Security Officer at ODIHR. “Sexual violence in detention is taboo, but it is also a persistent problem in the OSCE region, reflecting both a general acceptance of violence as collateral damage of incarceration, and the failure to protect human rights in detention facilities. This publication aims to shed light on this form of violence and inspire action to end it.”