Addressing Gender Based Violence and Environmental Crimes in West Papua

A presentation of the International Criminal Law Committee. Co-sponsored by the South Asia, Oceania and India Committee and with co-operation from the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
Since the 1960s, it is estimated that 500,000 West Papuans have been killed since Indonesia took over West Papua. Human rights violations have continued to take place since that time, perpetrated by the State, which includes arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders, extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances. In addition to these forms of violence, gender-based violence and environmental crimes remain rampant.
Violence between the government and different factions, leads to a significant amount of internal displacement and military forces use the situation against armed factions as a pretext to indiscriminately hurt women and children. In the 2022 Universal Periodic Review cycle, multiple Papuan organizations reported that Papuan women experience “abusive interrogation and horrific torture” while detained by Government forces. There has been zero accountability in these situations. Further, mining, deforestation, and land grabs, fueled by corporates who continue to cause pollution and have caused environmental destruction of rainforests, mangroves, and water bodies.
This session focuses on gender-based violence, ecocide, and climate crimes which are taking place in West Papua and the actions necessary to stop the continued commission of international crimes.
Speakers:
Szilvia Csevar, Lecturer/Researcher Public International Law, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands.
Fadjar Schouten-Korwa, Human Rights Lawyer, The Netherlands.
David Whtye, Professor of Climate Justice, Queen Mary University of London.
Moderator:
Bruce Zagaris, Partner, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP, Washington, D.C.