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Press Release

Kenyan Court Delays Justice for Survivors of Post-Election Sexual Violence  

The Court of Appeal in Nairobi, Kenya today failed survivors of the 2007-2008 post-election sexual violence by delaying the judgement in a landmark court case.   “As the litigation at the High Court and Court of Appeal (Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021) have been ongoing for more than 12 years, today’s postponement of a scheduled […]

April 11, 2025
Sexual Violence
Press Release

MEDIA ADVISORY: Judgement Expected Friday in Landmark Court Case on Election-Related Sexual Violence in Kenya

The Court of Appeal in Nairobi will deliver its judgment on Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021, brought by four survivors of election-related sexual violence during the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The four survivors were previously denied redress due to the High Court’s failure to recognize government’s responsibility to protect them from election-related sexual […]

April 8, 2025
Sexual Violence

Justice for Survivors of Post-Election Sexual Violence in Kenya

An ongoing court case aims to finally secure justice for the survivors of sexual violence. This high-profile litigation – officially known as Constitutional Petition No. 122 of 2013 – seeks to hold the Kenyan government accountable for sexual violence in the post-election period.

March 4, 2025
Mass Atrocities, Sexual Violence
Statements

U.S. Foreign Aid Freeze Disrupts Lifesaving Health Care, Services for Survivors of Sexual Violence Midst Deadly Conflict in Democratic Republic of the Congo: PHR 

The Trump administration’s executive order to freeze U.S. foreign aid for 90 days has halted the supply of lifesaving medical care to populations facing rising conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, said Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).  The order was issued as the M23 militia moves […]

February 12, 2025
Sexual Violence
Press Release

MEDIA ADVISORY: Pivotal Court of Appeal Hearing Tuesday in Landmark Election-Related Sexual Violence Case in Kenya

Survivors of 2007-2008 election-related sexual violence (ERSV) will have their first day in court since 2020, as they appeal a judgement that denied relief for four of the eight survivor-petitioners who experienced ERSV perpetrated by non-state actors  WHAT: Hearing for Civil Appeal No. E645 of 2021: Coalition of Women Against Violence vs. the Attorney General […]

February 2, 2025
Sexual Violence
Press Release

Millions at Risk as Conflict Escalates in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: PHR

In response to the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the following quote is attributable to Sam Zarifi, JD, executive director of PHR:  “Civilians in DRC are again caught between regional rivals fighting for power and mineral resources, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks alone, […]

January 27, 2025
Attacks on Health Care, Mass Atrocities, Sexual Violence
Multimedia

[VIDEO] Care in a Safe Place: Child-friendly Spaces for Survivors of Sexual Violence in the DRC

In armed conflicts around the world, sexual violence is perpetrated at an alarming rate – including against children. Multiple challenges limit evidence collection, preventing accountability for sexual violence. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Physicians for Human Rights and our partners are supporting child survivors of sexual violence through the creation of child-friendly spaces. […]

January 15, 2025
Children's Rights, Sexual Violence
Tools and Guides

Child-Centered Documentation Toolkit

Table of Contents Introduction Conflict-related sexual violence is an enduring problem globally. The burden of this violence often affects the most vulnerable within society, including women and girls, racial or other minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, and in particular, children. According to the UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report on children and armed conflict, almost 30,705 […]

December 20, 2024
Children's Rights, Sexual Violence
Press Release

“Massive Influx” of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): PHR Report

The escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has caused a “massive influx” of widespread sexual violence perpetrated by the DRC military, armed groups associated with neighboring countries, United Nations (UN) peacekeepers, and community members, according to a new report published today by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).   This widespread […]

October 22, 2024
Sexual Violence
Press Release

« Afflux massif » de violences sexuelles liées au conflit dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) :Rapport de PHR

La recrudescence du conflit dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) a provoqué un « afflux massif » de violences sexuelles de grande ampleur, perpétrées par des militaires de la RDC, des groupes armés associés aux pays voisins, des forces de maintien de la paix de l’ONU et des membres des communautés, selon […]

October 22, 2024
Sexual Violence
Press Release

Нова аналітична записка: Як покращити документування та підтримку жертв катувань і сексуального насильства, пов’язаного з конфліктом, в Україні

Все більша кількість випадків катувань і сексуального насильства в результаті дій російських сил в Україні потребує подальшої підтримки з боку української влади, щоб поліпшити документування злочинів і підтримку постраждалих, заявили сьогодні в організації Physicians for Human Rights (Лікарі за Права Людини – PHR).У новій аналітичній записці «Підтримка постраждалих від катувань та сексуального насильства, пов’язаного з […]

August 27, 2024
Sexual Violence, Torture
Press Release

New Policy Brief: How to Improve Documentation and Support Survivors of Torture and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ukraine

Increasing numbers of survivors of torture and sexual violence inflicted by Russian forces in Ukraine need further support from Ukrainian authorities to improve how the country’s justice system documents crimes and supports survivors, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) said today.   A new PHR policy brief (Supporting Survivors of Torture and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in […]

August 27, 2024
Sexual Violence, Torture
Blog

Sexual Violence in Ethiopia: The Health Care Providers Bringing Evidence to Light and Demanding Justice for Survivors

“Imagine providing critical care to patients with no access to medications or equipment, while your salary is withheld, your basic needs are unmet, and the very place you call home is no longer safe. Hospitals are routinely attacked by combatants. Insidious acts of sexual violence persist, and places of healing are turned into death traps. […]

June 18, 2024
Attacks on Health Care, Mass Atrocities, Persecution of Health Workers, Sexual Violence
Blog

In Iraq, a New Tool Helps Forensic Doctors Document Sexual Violence and Torture   

During its 2014 offensive, ISIS waged horrific violence in Iraq. ISIS targeted religious minorities, including the Yazidis, who suffered brutal attacks on their communities. Thousands of Yazidi men, women, and children were killed, forced into flight, or abducted, raped, and enslaved. Today, ten years later, most survivors are still waiting for justice.   Recognizing the […]

June 18, 2024
Sexual Violence, Torture
Report

Evidence for Impact, Advocacy for Justice

“If any of you worry about the issues that are going on in the world as you listen to the news every day and you feel somewhat powerless because the problems, the fractures, are too large and too many, I think you and I can take comfort that PHR is playing its part everywhere in […]

April 16, 2024
Asylum, Attacks on Health Care, Death Investigations, Excessive Force, Mass Atrocities, Reproductive Justice, Sexual Violence, Torture
Blog

PHR at the 55th UN Human Rights Council

The 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva concluded last week. Headed by PHR’s Executive Director Sam Zarifi, JD, LLM, the PHR delegation included Christian De Vos, JD, PhD, director of research and investigations, and Uliana Poltavets, Ukraine emergency response coordinator. The team presented several interventions before the Council, partnered […]

April 16, 2024
Attacks on Health Care, Mass Atrocities, Sexual Violence
Blog

Crisis in Ethiopia: A Q&A on PHR’s Partnerships for Health and Human Rights

The conflict that started in Tigray, Ethiopia in 2020 continues to cause devastating harm to civilians and the health sector and has led to a large-scale humanitarian and human rights crisis that continues in Tigray and has spread to other regions of Ethiopia. PHR has worked with our medical, public health, and human rights partners […]

April 3, 2024
Mass Atrocities, Sexual Violence

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