From Silence to Evidence: Documentation of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence by Civil Society in Ukraine. Limitations, Standards, and Best Practices for International Accountability Efforts.

The documentation of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in armed conflicts is essential for ensuring justice and accountability. This research examines the role, challenges, and lessons learnt by civil society organisations (CSOs) in documenting CRSV, with a focus on the Russia-Ukraine war. The ability of CSOs to fully document such crimes is limited: they are advised against conducting in-depth interviews with survivors and often lack the qualifications to gather forensic evidence and perform medical examinations. Additionally, ongoing war, flawed investigative practices, cultural stigmatisation of survivors, and the psychological trauma that discourages victims from speaking out further hinder the prosecution of CRSV cases. Despite these challenges, civil society in Ukraine has made significant contributions by conducting field missions to gather general accounts and photographic and video evidence, as well as by leveraging open-source investigations to track incidents and identify perpetrators. The work of civil society has expanded the reach and efficiency of official investigations and improved officials’ investigative practices in line with international standards. By highlighting how civil society overcomes legal, political, and social barriers, this research provides internationally relevant practical insights into the methods and tools CSOs can use to document CRSV cases and strengthen accountability. It also underscores the critical role of collaboration between CSOs and local investigative bodies in achieving these objectives.