How can technology revolutionize the investigation of sexual and gender-based crimes (SGBC)?

While frameworks like the ICC’s Policy on Gender-Based Crimes and the Murad Code have advanced investigative protocols, guidance on ethically integrating technology to mitigate risks such as digital leaks and data mismanagement remains limited.

This engaging panel, co-hosted by Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, the XCEPT research project team, and the Government of Canada, unpacked how emerging technologies are shaping investigations of SGBC within the framework of international criminal law.

Drawing from cutting-edge research, our distinguished speakers will highlight how tools like AI and open-source data can improve documentation with precision and efficiency. The discussion will also tackle critical ethical concerns such as survivor privacy, informed consent, and the risks associated with AI manipulation.

🗣️ Speakers

• Opening Remarks: Louis-Martin Aumais, Head of Canadian Delegation and Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Panelists:
  • Valerie Oosterveld, Western Research Chair in International Criminal Justice, University of Western Ontario; Special Adviser to the ICC Prosecutor on Crimes Against Humanity
  • Heather D. Flowe, Professor of Psychology, University of Birmingham (UK)
  • Kateryna Busol, Associate Professor, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine)
  • Polina Overchenko, Lawyer (Ukraine)
  • Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director, Yazda (Iraq)
  • Marie Lehmon, Yazda (France)
  • Loyce Mrewa, PhD Candidate, University of Western Ontario
  • Hannah Bagdasar, Associate Analyst (Open Source Analysis), ICC Office of the Prosecutor

Moderator: Valeria Babără, Legal and Advocacy Officer and AI Innovation Lead, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice

Main Topics

Innovative Technologies in SGBC Investigations
The panel showcased how advanced technologies are transforming investigations of sexual and gender-based crimes (SGBC) and improving access to justice:

• • AI-Driven Crime Scene Reconstruction: Panellists Natia Navrouzov and Marie Lehmon from Yazda detailed how in Iraq, AI-powered 3D modeling has been used to reconstruct crime scenes related to the Yazidi genocide. This not only preserves evidence but also provides powerful visual narratives for courts, particularly when survivors cannot testify in person.
  • Satellite Imagery and Open-Source Investigations: Panellists Kateryna Busol and Polina Overchenko highlighted the use of satellite imagery in Ukraine to corroborate survivors’ testimonies, mapping conflict-related sexual violence and identifying crime patterns that occur in private spaces.
  • Digital Archives: Tools like the SJAC‘s Bayanatdatabase allow organizations like Yazda to organize, analyze, and securely store vast amounts of survivor testimonies and other evidence. This is critical for long-term accountability efforts, especially when justice mechanisms face closures or delays.

Challenges in Data Security, Confidentiality, and Consent
While technology offers significant advancements, panellists emphasized the ethical and security risks inherent to its use:

• • Confidentiality Risks: A common theme that arose in interviews was survivors expressed fears over the misuse of their testimonies, particularly in communities where stigma around SGBC is high, stressing the importance of secure encryption methods and minimizing exposure to sensitive information.
  • Informed Consent in Digital Spaces: The process of seeking consent for storing and sharing digital evidence presents challenges, particularly in conflict-affected regions where survivors may lack access to secure devices or understand the implications of their data being preserved indefinitely.
  • Digital Bodies: Professor Oosterveld noted the concept of a “digital body”, where compromising digital evidence can have consequences akin to violating the survivor’s physical safety.

Access to Technology and Training
Disparities in access to technology and training for investigators emerged as a significant barrier:

• • Survivors in rural and conflict-affected regions may lack access to smartphones, the internet, or safe spaces to communicate.
  • Investigators, especially in under-resourced organizations, often struggle with expensive proprietary software and lack the technical skills needed to integrate AI or digital tools into their work.
  • Panellists called for the creation of accessible, affordable tools, such as automated translation software and voice-to-text transcription systems that function reliably in low-resource environments and reduce the emotional toll on investigators handling traumatic evidence.

Balancing Technology with Survivor-Centered Approaches
Human connection and survivor agency remained central to the discussion:

• • Survivors often prefer human-to-human interviews over digital recordings, emphasizing the importance of trust, rapport, and psychological safety. Panellists highlighted that survivors sometimes reject even audio recordings, requiring investigators to adapt their methods.
  • Survivors’ needs for control and dignity necessitate continuous consultation and transparency around how their data is handled, stored, and shared.
  • Panellists emphasized that technology must support rather than replace human-centered processes, ensuring that survivors feel empowered throughout the investigative journey.

Opportunities for Connecting Evidence and Detecting Patterns
Technology plays a pivotal role in detecting systemic patterns of violence and enhancing prosecutions:

• • Behavioral Analysis and Perpetrator Patterns: Professor Heather Flowe discussed the importance of identifying behavioral signatures and linking evidence across survivor accounts using database systems. This strengthens cases for crimes against humanity and genocide by illustrating the widespread and systematic nature of SGBC.
  • Red Flags and Indicators: Hannah Bagdasar from the ICC Office of the Prosecutor highlighted how “red flags” in open-source materials (e.g., videos showing the separation of men and women, unclothed body parts, certain objects in detention settings) can serve as indicators of SGBC and guide investigators in identifying evidence otherwise missed.

Data Preservation and Justice Mechanisms
The closure of investigative mechanisms, such as UNITAD’s work in Iraq, underscored the importance of long-term data preservation:

• • Panellist Natia Navrouzo shared the challenges of ensuring evidence remains accessible for future justice efforts, particularly when collected data becomes fragmented or inaccessible due to technological or funding limitations.
  • Calls were made for a standing mechanism to preserve and store evidence, ensuring that survivor testimonies are safeguarded for decades and available to support ongoing prosecutions.

Future Directions

The panel concluded with a call for global collaboration and ethical innovation:

• Developing gender-sensitive and survivor-centric technologies tailored to investigative needs.
• Providing ongoing training for investigators to bridge the gap between legal expertise, technological tools, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Ensuring technology is used responsibly to balance evidence collection, survivor safety, and psychological well-being.