The Nairobi Declaration: Redefining Reparation for Women Victims of Sexual Violence

This paper explores the contribution of the Nairobi Declarationon the Right of Women and Girls to a Remedy and Reparation tothe problem of delivering justice through reparation programmesfor women victims of sexual violence in conflict situations.It highlights that this civil society initiative is particularlysignificant because it gives voice to women and girls who aresurvivors of sexual violence. Placed in the context of the recentadoption by the United Nations' General Assembly of the BasicPrinciples and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparationfor Victims of Gross Violations of International Human RightsLaw and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law,the Nairobi Declaration redefines reparation and guides policy-makingto implement the right to reparation specifically for victimsof sexual violence. The concept of reparation as a transformativeand participative process put forward in the Nairobi Declarationconstitutes its most innovative and inspiring contribution.