The resurgence of a number of conflicts in recent years, coupled with the outbreak of new ones, has seen an increase in sexual violence. This violence is mainly committed against women and girls whose vulnerability is exacerbated by the chaos of conflict, their separation from their family and community, or their needs to carry out certain tasks which can put them at risk, such as fetching food or firewood. The latest report from the UN Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict paints a bleak picture, starting with Ukraine, and extending to Syria and South Sudan, to name but a few examples.
As the report notes, sexual violence in conflict situations remains widespread and systematic, fuelled by "rising inequality, increasing militarisation, shrinking civic space and the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, among other factors".
Moreover, in many conflicts, women's bodies become weapons of war and rape is used as another tactic of humiliation and domination. According to Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, it is a terrorist tactic used by certain violent extremist groups and armed factions in countries such as Mali, Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia and Syria, who target victims from opposing ethnic, religious or political groups. Sexual violence continues to be a driver of forced displacement in countries such as Colombia, Somalia and Myanmar. Not only does it force people to flee their homes, but, in the face of total impunity for such crimes, it prevents them from returning home and taking back their land and resources. This is not unlike the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups use sexual violence as a form of collective punishment or as another means of securing their control over natural resources and territory. Sexual violence can take many forms, from rape, sexual slavery, prostitution or forced pregnancy to forced sterilisation. In Cabo Delgado, Mozambique and Syria, the abduction, rape and forced marriage of women and girls by non-state armed groups has become common practice. Meanwhile, in Libya and Yemen, there have been a high number of cases of sexual violence against migrant and refugee women and girls, especially those housed in detention centres. Collecting food, water or firewood in the CAR has, for thousands of women and girls, become a dangerous task that can end in rape or abduction by the country’s various armed groups.
The impact of sexual violence can be devastating, with long-term consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries, unwanted pregnancies, fistula, sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, and even social stigmatisation. This stigmatisation which, coupled with harmful social norms related to honour, shame and victim-blaming, fear of reprisals and a culture of impunity for such crimes, means that most cases of sexual violence go unreported, preventing victims from accessing the services they need.
What’s more, the insecurity and precariousness of health centres make it difficult to access basic healthcare services, especially those related to sexual and reproductive health, which would allow for the detection and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, etc.
Sexual violence can also severely affect the mental health of the victim, with highly negative consequences in the short, medium or long term. Although mental health and psychosocial support interventions are essential components of a comprehensive package of care for survivors of sexual violence, the reality is that victims rarely have access to such services.
There is a shortage of care and treatment services for victims of sexual violence, but also of prevention and protection services. As so often happens, promises of funding from the international community have come to nothing.
For these reasons, the UN Secretary-General includes a series of recommendations for both the Security Council and the international community, involving actions which are critical if we are to comprehensively address sexual violence in conflict. The main recommendations are:
Recommendations to the Security Council
Recommendations to Member States, donors, regional and intergovernmental organisations
While many donors are committed to combating sexual violence, policy measures, funding and mechanisms to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual violence still fall far short of pledges and commitments.