Conflict-related Sexual Violence in the Ukraine War

In this episode of the Expert Series, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Trisko Darden (Assistant Professor of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University and Director of the Security and Foreign Policy Initiative at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute) and Dr. Kateryna Busol (Ukrainian lawyer and Associate Professor at the Department of International and European Law) to discuss conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and its implications in Ukraine. Dr. Jessica Trisko Darden highlights evolving international legal frameworks and explains current challenges in prosecuting CRSV under international humanitarian law. Dr. Kateryna Busol details how CRSV has been weaponized by Russian soldiers and been exacerbated by a culture of impunity and dehumanizing rhetoric. Today’s episode emphasizes the need for sustained capacity-building and technical support to Ukraine's investigators, prosecutors, and civil society in combatting CRSV.The CDA Institute is a non-partisan think tank that conducts research and education programming on defence and security.Learn more: CDA Institute