Sexual violence in war: a grim reality for women worldwide!

Sexual violence in war: a grim reality for women worldwide!

Sexual violence is increasingly being used as a systematic weapon of war, which has devastating effects on women, girls and the social fabric in conflict regions. Historically, sexual violence such as rape has been officially recognized as a war crime since 2008, but perpetrators are often not held accountable. This is due to insufficient evidence as well as a lack of witness protection and fear of stigmatization. Loud kleinezeitung.at The phenomenon is not only pronounced in war zones, but also in post-war regions, where cases of domestic violence are increasing.

Women's rights organizations such as AMICA report appalling conditions for women and girls in crisis areas, while the number of documented cases of sexual violence increased by 50% in 2023. In conflict regions such as Sudan, Gaza, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rwanda, sexual violence is not only perpetrated, but is also used specifically to spread fear and humiliation ilmr.de explained.

Current conflicts and documentation

A civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been raging in Sudan since 2023. They are accused of practicing systematic sexual violence against women and girls. Amnesty International documented several cases between April 2023 and October 2024, ranging from the rape of a 15-year-old girl to the sexual enslavement of a woman who was held for over 30 days. Resistance to such attacks often resulted in brutal beatings, torture or even death, the reports show.

The situation in Gaza is equally alarming. After Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, eyewitnesses reported brutal sexual abuse of women, both during the attack and in captivity. The cruel acts resulted in many women being murdered after the rapes. This is supported by reports of mutilated corpses, indicating mass use of sexual violence.

Systematic violence in history

In Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 conflict, over 100 rape camps were established where it is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 Bosnian women were raped. Many women were forced to carry to term pregnancies resulting from rape. Another horrific example is the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped, often by men who were intentionally infected with HIV to harm the survivors. These patterns show that sexual violence is used in conflict not just as a byproduct, but as a strategic tool to manipulate and destabilize power relations.

Ukraine has also seen increasing reports of sexual violence, particularly since the start of the war with Russia. The vast majority of victims are women and girls who often do not receive any support due to patriarchal structures and stigmatization.

The role of the international community

The increasing sexual violence in conflicts highlights the need for an effective international response and the protection of human rights. Although the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recognizes such crimes, implementation often remains weak. National courts and truth and reconciliation commissions are often unable to legally prosecute perpetrators. unwomen.at highlights that many victims continue to suffer from extreme stigmatization, making full processing and recovery difficult.

International organizations such as UN Women offer support for women in crisis areas. They work to offer survivors of sexual violence the legal and social assistance that is urgently needed to rehabilitate the lives of those affected and enable them to return to social life.

Combating sexual violence as a weapon of war requires coherent action by the international community as well as greater awareness and protective measures for the most vulnerable groups in conflict regions.