An Exceptional Training to Raise Awareness Among Magistrates About Rape as a Weapon of War

On November 13, Stand Speak Rise Up!, in collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute of Belgium, organized an exceptional training session dedicated to raising awareness among magistrates about the use of rape as a weapon of war.

A morning marked by high-level interventions

Three experts provided valuable insights on this complex and critical topic:

• Vaios Koutroulis, Professor of International Law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, presented the evolution of international humanitarian and criminal law, highlighting sexual and reproductive violence during armed conflicts.
• Charles-Eric Clesse, Deputy Director of the Judicial Training Institute and a board member of Stand Speak Rise Up!, explored the legal framework surrounding human trafficking and the violence faced by women in exile.
• Valentine Audate, Coordinator for gender-based international protection requests at the General Commissariat for Refugees and Stateless Persons, shared her perspectives on the protection process for victims of sexual violence in times of war.

An inspiring conclusion by HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

“It is our collective duty to stand against the most heinous crimes, including rape as a weapon of war.”

In closing, HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg delivered a powerful speech emphasizing the importance of collective engagement to combat these atrocities. Her words underscored the need for concerted action by magistrates and judicial actors to protect the rights of survivors.

A valuable platform for exchange and action

This training session provided a unique opportunity for enriching discussions, strengthening knowledge, and driving concrete actions to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones.