On 13 July, the Women’s Initiatives filed a request for leave as amicus curiae to ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II in relation to the Confirmation of Charges decision against Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo for crimes committed in the Central African Republic. Amongst the crimes unconfirmed by the Chamber were torture as a crime against humanity, based on acts of rape, and outrages upon person dignity as a war crime, also based on acts of rape. It was the view of the Chamber that these charges were fully subsumed under the specific count of rape, which was confirmed in the charges against Bemba.

The Women’s Initiatives is seeking leave to address the Court on the application of a cumulative charging framework for crimes of sexual violence.