Panel 3: Oryem Nyeko, Brenda Muturi, Sufiya Bray and Jaqueline Mutere. labour have a complex relationship with the perpetrators of these crimes. Many women have borne children from perpetrators, making relationships and inheritance difficult in a context in which identity is rooted in paternal lineage. In this regard, he detailed how many women willingly continue to live with perpetrators of these crimes. Nyeko further highlighted a key critique of the way in which ICC processes are unfolding in northern Uganda. He argued that there is a need to look beyond the LRA as the sole perpetrator as forced marriage, exploitation and slavery were perpetrated by both the government and the rebels. In the case of the government, these crimes were committed by those charged with protecting victims. Unfortunately, there were very few avenues for accountability as victims feared reporting and implicating the perpetrators in a context of potential intimidation and stigmatisation of those who identify perpetrators. SUFIYA BRAY sb Project Manager, Advocacy Programme: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation Accountability gaps: Addressing sexual and gender-based violence crimes within transitional justice Many women have borne children from perpetrators, making relationships and inheritance difficult in a context in which identity is rooted in paternal lineage. Bray’s presentation examined the challenges related to reporting, investigating and prosecuting sexual and gender based violence crimes in conflict and post-conflict states. She highlighted the lack of comprehensive, holistic approaches to providing redress to victims. In this regard, she identified several accountability challenges and gaps currently facing the redress and prosecution of sexual violence and gender-based crimes. For Nyeko, these complexities indicate the importance of discussing issues of sexual and gender-based violence with a view to challenging the stigma associated with it, which often prevents victims and witnesses from speaking out. Finally, for Nyeko, they speak to a need to go beyond prosecution as means of redress, particularly in light of the trans-generational impacts of these crimes. Bray began by highlighting some terminological challenges related to addressing gender-based violence. She noted that understandings of victims’ rights are often based on the perspectives of those in control. Bray thus questioned whether legal and transitional justice practitioners and others in the NGO sector consider the implications and consequences of how these processes affect the victims’ lives. PANEL 3: Accountability gaps in approaches to sexual and gender-based violence /11

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