HUMAN RIGHTS: Conflict-related sexual violence

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In conflict situations, violence is used against civilians in order to inflict trauma, humiliate, fracture the social and moral fabric of innocent victims, their families and communities. Conflict-related sexual violence (also referred to as CRSV) is a horrific method used by armed actors, terrorist groups, and other malicious parties as a tactic of war, terrorism, or extremist violence. 

WHAT IS CRSV?

When we talk about CRSV, it can include things like rape, sexual assault, forced abortions, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced marriages, forced pregnancy, and unwanted sterilization. It can mean any kind of sexual violence that is related to a conflict that can be inflicted on men, women, young boys or girls. We can define CRSV by the profile of the perpetrators and the victims. 

The perpetrators are often tied to armed groups that can be State, or non-State affiliated. This means that they could be armies, police, and any other authorities that belongs to the country's government or local government. Non-state actors can be rebel or terrorist groups, extremist organizations or mercenaries.  Victims can include members or people allied with local party groups, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, or people targeted for sexual orientations or gender identities.

What else we are looking at is the circumstances around the sexual violence. It has to be conflict related. This means that it happens when a country is at war, has on-going civil conflict, or there is State collapse. It can also occur when refugees are crossing borders or trying to seek asylum. There can be human trafficking or smuggling as a result of the human migration. 

WHY IS CRSV COMMITTED?

Perpetrators can use acts of sexual violence to coerce victims or their communities, to enforce harsh rules, or to use as a "tool of war" against civilian population. CRSV can be used for torture, or as an interrogation tactic. 

We can see these examples quite clearly in wars associated with the Russian army such as in Ukraine, Syria or Chechnya. CRSV is also associated with places where the Wagner Group, Russian mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, are present. For example, in African countries such as Mali and Central African Republic. 

The reason I have brought up Russia is because many types of sexual violence has surfaced in the ongoing war in Ukraine. From other wars, we have victims statements and evidence, but in this modern war social media has a massive presence.  

Footage of soldiers having their genitals mutilated have surfaced on Telegram. Many Ukrainian women have reported acts of sexual violence to authorities, committed by the Russian army. We have also have telephone conversation recordings of the Russian military personnel bragging about raping Ukrainian women and torturing Ukrainian male soldiers. 

IS IT A WAR CRIME?

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have been classified as war crimes by the Statute of the International Criminal Court. They have also been ruled to be "crimes against humanity", when systematically used against civilian populations. Other crimes such as torture or genocide can be committed in conjunction with CRSV.

Acts of sexual violence are also against international humanitarian law and human rights laws.

WHAT IS THE UNITED NATIONS DOING TO STOP CRSV?

Peacekeeping missions, run under the United Nations banner, aim to reduce and eventually stop CRSV by:

  • Monitoring and reporting: UN Peacekeepers work closely with local authorities to monitor crimes and report on them so that there can be a legal framework in place that will lead to prosecution. 
  • Providing protection: Peacekeepers are often deployed in the most vulnerable areas and unstable conflict zones. They can provide protection to civilian populations as well as deter, and hopefully stop, acts of sexual violence. 
  • Acting as negotiators between parties in conflict: Trying to engage parties to make commitments to stop CRSV. And also to support these parties to committing to their promises and acting on them.   
  • Raising awareness and building capacity to deal with issues: Through social media campaigns, radio and other media, they try to normalize crimes of sexual violence so that victims wouldn't feel so much stigma. They also work with local agents to help deal with CRSV in a bigger capacity. UN works on every level, from how to help victims to how to stop CRSV. 
  • Training: They train the local authorities to have the skills to deal with crimes of sexual violence.
  • Ending impunity: They try to support national investigations of crimes of sexual violence and to provide a safe space for victims and witnesses in the judicial system. 
WHAT ABOUT THE VICTIMS?

Victims of sexual crimes often feel prejudice attached to their experiences. This means that cases of conflict related sexual violence are often under reported. Such crimes can affect the survivors, and in larger extent, their families and communities. 

There is often severe trauma from such experiences, and also a whole host of psychological damage. Such crimes can impact on the victims' health in various ways: sexually transmitted diseases, viruses, permanent physical injuries or infertility due to the injuries. Some very horrible cases of CRSV can lead to death. In some countries, a victims social standing or ability to marry can also be affected. 

Sometimes, these rapes can lead to unwanted pregnancies. This can lead to the mothers being shunned by their own communities. Or, it can lead to having a hard time to  register the children with local authorities, their legal names or claims of citizenship. Some countries are very male dominated, and the absence of a father can make the life of the woman very difficult. 

CONCLUSION

Conflict related sexual violence is a difficult topic to talk about, but necessary to do so. Awareness needs to be brought up around who is committing these atrocious crimes and what impact it has on the victims, the communities they belong to and the overall society at large. 

More needs to be done so that victims don't feel ashamed to report on sexual related crimes. Much better support is needed for victims to help them heal physically, mentally and also to achieve some kind of retribution through the judicial system. Efforts made to stop CRSV need to have a survivor-centered approach. 

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