Justice without Frontiers organizes a seminar on Sexual and Gender based crimes in conflict

On the occasion of the International Justice Day, Justice without Frontiers organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Bar Association in Beirut as well as other NGOs a seminar entitled Sexual and Gender based crimes in conflict. Participants discussed primarily the absence of the concept of justice.  The representative of the president of the Beirut Bar Association, Pierre Hanna, noted that gender based sexual crimes in times of conflict are one of the key human rights issues.  He called for restraining such practices and for providing protection to survivors and for the creation of an office for victims of sexual crimes and for providing them with moral and financial compensation as well as treating physical and mental damages.  He added that the creation of the suggested office will also ensure the upholding of the Rome Convention for the International Criminal Court with regards to sexual crimes during conflict.  Hanna considered that the fact that Lebanon is not party to the Rome Convention and subsequently to the ICC constitutes a gap which allows the country to be a safe haven for perpetrators of sexual crimes.
The event also included a session during which Lt. Colonel Elie Asmar of the ISF spoke of sexual crimes.  He clarified that articles 503 to 506 of the penal code penalize the crime of rape.  However, clause 503 is an obstacle to criminalizing marital rape as it penalizes “anybody who forces a non spouse into non consensual sex”.  He also noted that the Lebanese penal code shies away from using the term “sexual crimes” and uses instead “crimes that violate public morals”.
The seminar concluded with lawyer Brigitte Chalabian who emphasized that sexual crimes in Lebanon are still considered to be a taboo which is borne by the victim and not by the perpetrator.  She added that sexual crimes will not become actual court cases unless a judicial system is found to protect victims and witnesses.

Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar, 22 July 2014