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►  The War Crimes Research Office of American University Washington College of Law, co-sponsored by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the War Crimes Research Office of American University Washington College of Law with UN Women, Mujeres Transformando el Mundo and ReLeG announced open registration for a discussion of “Documenting Good Practice on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: the Sepur Zarco Case“, which will be held on Friday May 13th at 12 p.m. EST via Zoom.  Click here for Registration.

Sepur Zarco is a landmark verdict in which a Guatemalan court convicted two former military members of acts of sexual violence, sexual slavery, and domestic slavery committed against Maya Q’eqchi’ women near a military outpost in Sepur Zarco during the civil war in Guatemala. This was one of the first convictions of former military members for acts of sexual violence committed in the context of the country’s civil war, and one of the first instances of a domestic court anywhere prosecuting sexual slavery as an international crime.

The report highlights some of the critical developments prior to the case, as well as the social, legal, and political strategies employed in the case, which led to its remarkable success. It will also offer some reflections about the challenges that have emerged since the Sepur Zarco case and the potential lessons learned for pending and future litigation of similar cases in the region.

Speakers include Demecia Yat, President of the Jalok U Collective and one of the survivors of the conflict-related violence in the SepurZarco case, as well as:

·      Paula Barrios, Chief Coordinator, Mujeres Transformando el Mundo.

·      Susana SaCouto, Professorial Lecturer-in-Residence and Director, War Crimes Research Office, American University Washington College of Law.

·      Claudia Martin, Professorial Lecturer-in-Residence and Co-Director, Academy of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law.

·      Emily Kenney, Policy Specialist, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice, UN Women.

·      Ana Grace Cabrera Cordon, Coordinator on Women, Peace & Security and Humanitarian Action, UN Women Guatemala.

This event is free but requires registration through:https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bh9Xwut8SK-pvNX9s94VfA

Date: Friday, May 13, 2022 – 12:00pm to 1:30pm.