Support sexual violence survivor-activists

At Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ), we remain committed to supporting survivor-activists and advancing gender-responsive justice at local and international levels.

Since our last update, we are proud to share two new resources that put our commitments into practice.

First, we launched the Survivor Engagement Protocol, developed together with Synergy for Justice, Tallawah Justice for Women, and Grace Agenda. This Protocol fills a longstanding gap in international justice practice by setting out concrete operational standards for how organisations should engage survivors in advocacy and policy spaces, covering the full cycle of engagement from first contact and outreach, through to remuneration, consent, and post-event accountability. At its core, the Protocol affirms that survivors are the ultimate decision-makers regarding their own participation, and that their time, expertise, and labour must be valued and fairly compensated. To help organisations put this guidance into practice, we also released an accompanying interactive checklist, allowing teams to work through each stage of engagement systematically and flag risks as they arise.

Second, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we launched Intersectional Justice: A Practical Guide for the Rome Statute System. Sexual violence in conflict is rarely experienced along a single axis, the same coercive regimes that target women and girls also force adolescent boys into conjugal roles, compel men to witness the abuse of relatives, exclude and abandon disabled captives, and persecute LGBTQI+ people. Grounded in Article 21(3) of the Rome Statute, which requires the law to be applied without adverse distinction and consistently with internationally recognised human rights, this guide turns intersectionality from principle into practice. It offers concrete recommendations and guiding questions covering the full justice cycle, from investigation through to adjudication, reparations, and institutional governance, with tailored guidance for the Office of the Prosecutor, Chambers, the Registry, the Trust Fund for Victims, the Assembly of States Parties, and States Parties.

Together, these resources reflect the same commitment that underpins this project: ensuring that survivors are not only supported, but recognised as experts whose voices and lived experiences shape justice outcomes.

Thank you for your continued support. Your contributions help sustain survivor-led advocacy, strengthen legal responses to sexual violence, and advance a more just and equitable world where survivors' rights and experiences are central.