The 'Dinah Project': A quest for justice for women who experienced sexual violence on October 7

In an exclusive interview with VOZ, Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, founding member of the Dinah Project, shared details about the work of the organization she leads and the book A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond, recently published by the group.

Halperin-Kaddarin, also founder of the Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Bar-Ilan University and former vice-chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, says that Hamas and other terrorist groups used sexual violence as a weapon of war during the October 7 massacre and seeks to bring the perpetrators of these horrific acts to justice. 

It is an effort that combines academic rigor, legal analysis and human rights activism.

What is the 'Dinah Project'

The Dinah Project is an initiative led by a group of women specialists in a variety of fields, including Lt. Col. (res.) Sharon Zagagi Pinchas, former chief military prosecutor; Nava Ben-Or, former Jerusalem district judge; Nurit Jacobs Yinon, a documentary filmmaker; and Eeta Prince-Gibson, a freelance journalist who edited the book. According to Halperin-Kaddari, the group began working immediately after the October 7 attacks in 2023, realizing the magnitude of the acts of sexual violence used as a weapon of war by Hamas terrorists.

"When we understood what had happened, each from her area of expertise, we decided to act," the professor explained. "Our mission is to collect and analyze information from a legal perspective in order to obtain justice, both nationally and internationally, for the victims of these heinous crimes," she added.

The Dinah Project operates under the umbrella of the Rackman Center. It aims to thoroughly document the acts of sexual violence that occurred on October 7, establish a strong evidentiary basis and advocate for international recognition of these crimes.

The book 'A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond'

The book, the fruit of a year and a half of work, represents an unprecedented effort to collect and classify evidence of sex crimes committed during the October 7 massacre and in the captivity of the hostages. "It is the first time such a comprehensive evidentiary base has been developed," Halperin-Kaddari said. The text includes real-time witness testimony, details from 17 people who witnessed or heard rapes and sexual assaults, and accounts from former hostages who are beginning to talk about their experience.

In addition, the book proposes a legal framework based on international and domestic criminal law, which seeks to bring terrorists detained in Israel to justice for their crimes. This framework emphasizes shared responsibility and addresses the challenges of prosecuting sex crimes in conflict contexts, where the collection of forensic evidence is nearly impossible. "If judicial systems insist on requiring strong forensic evidence or a direct relationship between offender and victim, these criminals will enjoy total immunity," the professor warned.

The Dinah Project also addresses the international community, urging organizations such as the UN to blacklist Hamas as a group that uses sexual violence as a weapon of war. It also urges Israeli authorities to prosecute terrorists arrested for these crimes.

Denialism and betrayal: An obstacle to justice

One of the most painful issues addressed in the interview was denialism and the lack of response from some international organizations, including feminist and human rights groups. Halperin-Kaddari expressed her disappointment: "We felt that we were abandoned and even betrayed. Some organizations we worked with in the past kept silent or denied the facts."

The professor noted that while not all international entities have failed - for example, the report by Pramila Patten, UN special representative for sexual violence in conflict, marked a turning point by confirming "reasonable grounds" to believe that rape and sexual assault occurred on October 7 - denialism persists. This phenomenon, according to Halperin-Kaddari, is linked to the politicization of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "For some, it doesn't fit their narrative that Palestinians are eternal victims and Israel the absolute aggressor. They cannot accept that, at least on that day, the roles were reversed," she explained.

The professor also addressed the perception of anti-Semitism in this denialism. While acknowledging that it is not the only factor, she noted that the scope and duration of denialism, as well as its use to attack Jews in general, are unique to October 7. "We see a terrible increase in anti-Semitic attacks around the world," she lamented.

The impact and hope for the future

Despite the challenges, Halperin-Kaddari was cautiously optimistic about the impact of the Dinah Project. Since the book's publication, it has received positive coverage in international media such as CNN, BBC, Reuters and AP, suggesting a shift in global perception. "We are surprised by the great coverage. The media have presented our findings without questioning them or giving space to denialism," she noted.

The credibility of the project, stemming from its academic and independent nature, has helped open up a more authentic debate on sexual violence in conflict. Halperin-Kaddari hopes the book sets a precedent for prosecuting sex crimes in conflict globally. "We have opened a door for a new debate. We want a paradigm shift that will bring to justice those who commit these crimes, not only in Israel, but around the world," she said.

A call for universal justice

The Dinah Project not only seeks justice for the victims of October 7, but also to establish a broader standard for addressing sexual violence in conflict. The professor emphasized that the victims of these crimes, regardless of their governments' actions and political context, deserve justice.

In a world where disinformation and politicization often obscure the truth, the Dinah Project stands as a beacon of rigor and commitment to human rights. With their work, Halperin-Kaddari and her team not only honor the victims of October 7, but also challenge the world to confront the reality of sex crimes as a weapon of war and act accordingly.