Acknowledgements - Iraq Supplement to the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict

Sep 1, 2026

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Acknowledgements recognize contributions to the Iraq supplement to the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Institute for International Criminal Investigations credits Dr Ingrid Elliott, Stephanie Barbour, and Suzan Aref for writing and expert review, and thanks anonymous reviewers and programme leadership. Support is attributed to the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, while guidance clarifies that users may adapt the living document with appropriate attribution.

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Pages61

Reading Time21 min

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IRAQ SUPPLEMENT TO INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE DOCUMENTATION AND INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT Guidance for Practitioners in Iraq 1 February 2018 © Institute for International Criminal Investigations 2018 TOC \o "1-3" Acknowledgements PAGEREF _Toc506233683 \h 1 Copyright in this Supplement, and note about adapting this Supplement PAGEREF _Toc506233684 \h 1 Disclaimer PAGEREF _Toc506233685 \h 1 About IICI PAGEREF _Toc506233686 \h 1 ACRONYMS PAGEREF _Toc506233687 \h 2 CHAPTER 1: USING THE INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL & THIS SUPPLEMENT, AND OTHER NOTES ON THIS SUPPLEMENT PAGEREF _Toc506233688 \h 4 CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE PAGEREF _Toc506233689 \h 6 A. Contextualising Sexual Violence PAGEREF _Toc506233690 \h 6 1. Gender and Conflict in Iraq PAGEREF _Toc506233691 \h 6 C. Conflict and Atrocity Related Sexual Violence in Iraq PAGEREF _Toc506233692 \h 7 Saddam Hussein’s Use of Sexual Violence and Torture against Political Opponents and Detainees PAGEREF _Toc506233693 \h 7 Post US-Invasion Surge in Sexual Violence PAGEREF _Toc506233694 \h 8 Intensifying violence before Da’esh Attacks and Territory Seizure in 2014 PAGEREF _Toc506233695 \h 8 Da’esh Sexual Violence and Subjugation of Women - 2014 onwards PAGEREF _Toc506233696 \h 9 D. Impact of Sexual Violence in Iraq PAGEREF _Toc506233697 \h 11 CHAPTER 3: ACCOUNTABILITY AVENUES AND REMEDIES PAGEREF _Toc506233698 \h 13 C. Overview of Accountability Avenues and Remedies for Victims PAGEREF _Toc506233699 \h 13 1. Domestic Avenues (in Iraq) PAGEREF _Toc506233700 \h 13 2. Regional and International Human Rights Mechanisms PAGEREF _Toc506233701 \h 15 3. Investigative and Fact-Finding Bodies PAGEREF _Toc506233702 \h 16 4. International and Hybrid Courts and Tribunals PAGEREF _Toc506233703 \h 16 5. Proceedings in Third States – Extra-territorial Jurisdiction including Universal Jurisdiction PAGEREF _Toc506233704 \h 17 CHAPTER 4: INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY PAGEREF _Toc506233705 \h 20 A. Introduction PAGEREF _Toc506233706 \h 20 1. Legal Framework PAGEREF _Toc506233707 \h 20 B. Elements of Crimes PAGEREF _Toc506233708 \h 21 Main Crimes under Iraqi Law Relevant for Sexual Violence PAGEREF _Toc506233709 \h 21 Iraqi Law – Modes of Liability PAGEREF _Toc506233710 \h 25 Defences under the Iraqi Penal Code (which generally do not reflect the strictly defined defences under international law): PAGEREF _Toc506233711 \h 28 C. Factual Scenarios PAGEREF _Toc506233712 \h 30 D. Rules of Procedure and Evidence PAGEREF _Toc506233713 \h 32 1. Consent PAGEREF _Toc506233714 \h 32 2. Corroboration PAGEREF _Toc506233715 \h 32 3. Prior and Subsequent Sexual Conduct PAGEREF _Toc506233716 \h 33 4. Other Protective Measures PAGEREF _Toc506233717 \h 34 CHAPTER 7: DO NO HARM PAGEREF _Toc506233718 \h 36 A. Key Concepts PAGEREF _Toc506233719 \h 36 1. Harm PAGEREF _Toc506233720 \h 36 B. Informed Consent PAGEREF _Toc506233721 \h 40 C. Mitigating Harm PAGEREF _Toc506233722 \h 44 1. Threat and Risk Assessments for Iraq PAGEREF _Toc506233723 \h 44 2. Coordination Problems in Northern Iraq PAGEREF _Toc506233724 \h 45 4. Referrals in Iraq (men, women, girls and boys) PAGEREF _Toc506233725 \h 47 CHAPTER 9: PLANNING PAGEREF _Toc506233726 \h 48 ANNEX I: EVIDENCE WORKBOOK USING IRAQI LAW PAGEREF _Toc506233727 \h 50 Acknowledgements This Supplement was written on behalf of the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) by Dr Ingrid Elliott MBE, International Criminal Justice and SGBV Expert, UK Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Team of Experts & UK Senior Gender and Justice Conflict Adviser. Stephanie Barbour, SGBV Investigator and International Criminal Justice Practitioner, provided independent expert review of the Supplement. Suzan Aref, Director of Women Empowerment Organization (WEO), also revi

FAQs

Who wrote and reviewed the Iraq supplement?

The supplement was written on behalf of IICI by Dr Ingrid Elliott, with independent expert review provided by Stephanie Barbour. Suzan Aref also reviewed the supplement, alongside anonymous reviewers and IICI’s programme director, Gabriël Oosthuizen.

Can users adapt this supplement, and do they need approval?

Yes. The supplement is a living document and tool, and users are free to use, update, correct, and adapt it for their own purposes without securing approval, provided due acknowledgment is given.

What responsibility does IICI take regarding use or adaptation?

IICI states it is not responsible for if and how the supplement or the related International Protocol is used or adapted by others, nor for related consequences. Users must also check whether the content is up to date and correct.

Sep 1, 2026

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