Women and armed conflict10/7/2023 ![]() Communities struggle with the consequences of sexual violence during war even decades into time of peace. Today, in the Democratic Republic of Congo the frequency and concentration of rape and other sexual violence as a weapon of war is described as the worst worldwide. ![]() During the Rwandan genocide, an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women were raped. The rapes of more than 20,000 women during the war in former Yugoslavia brought rape to the fore as a war crime and the issue emerged as a serious agenda item of the international community. It may also be used to undermine women's ability to sustain their communities during times of conflict. Sexual violence is used in war to shame and humiliate the enemy, as a reward to the conquering side, and as a means to spread terror and to weaken morale. In addition to murder and torture, sexual assault and exploitation including rape and sexual slavery are frequently employed as tools of war. It is estimated that close to 90 per cent of current war casualties are civilians, the majority of whom are women and children. The effects of this violence persist long after a peace agreement is signed. ![]() While war and conflict inflict suffering on everyone, women are disproportionately affected by forced displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructures, rights violations and by sexual and gender-based violence. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |