Mapping the action of the International Criminal Court

the revictimization of women victims of sexual violence crimes in armed conflicts

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2026/90508

The article aims to explore the issue of the revictimization of women who are victims of sexual crimes tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is observed that sexual violence has historically been used as a weapon of war to subjugate communities, and victims, particularly women, face procedural difficulties, psychological revictimization, and a lack of adequate support. The study highlights that, despite the Rome Statute (1998) classifying sexual crimes as war crimes and crimes against humanity, criminal accountability remains limited. The research also points to the restricted participation of victims in the ICC and the predominance of a Eurocentric perspective in the court’s jurisprudence, which marginalizes the experiences of victims from the Global South. The study proposes a more gender-sensitive and intersectional approach, along with the effective implementation of the principles of the UN Declaration on the rights of victims. It concludes that the ICC requires structural reforms to ensure effective justice for victims of sexual violence in armed conflicts.