Legal protection of women in armed conflict

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal protection of women in armed conflict, with a special focus on the situation in Ukraine. It examines international legal instruments, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and UN Security Council resolutions that form the basis for the protection of women in crisis situations. It analyzes the national legislation of Ukraine in this area, including the Constitution, relevant laws, and National Action Plans for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325. The study highlights the scale and nature of gender-based violence in the context of armed conflict in Ukraine, based on data from international and Ukrainian human rights organizations, as well as the testimonies of victims. An assessment of the effectiveness of existing legal mechanisms was conducted, identifying key gaps, including the lack of comprehensive legislation on conflict-related sexual violence, insufficient protection of female prisoners of war, the lack of a comprehensive state policy on reparations for victims, and obstacles to access to justice and documentation of crimes. The article defines the main objectives of the study, including a critical analysis of the current legal framework, an assessment of its effectiveness, the identification of unresolved issues, and the development of specific recommendations. The main material provides a detailed review of the international legal framework for the protection of women, the national legislation of Ukraine, the realities of gender-based violence, and key unresolved issues. Recommendations are provided for strengthening the legal framework and its implementation, including the need to adopt comprehensive legislation on sexual violence, strengthen the protection of female prisoners of war, develop a state policy on reparations, and improve access to justice. The conclusions highlight significant challenges in the area of ​​legal protection of women in the context of armed conflict in Ukraine and emphasize the need for coordinated action by national authorities, international partners and civil society to ensure effective protection of their rights.