Partcipate in the discussion of this chapter now!
CP Photo Archive: Kittinun Rodsupan
Ending Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation
"I was defiled by some older boys [could not remember how many] when we were being marched to the rebel camp. After returning from Sudan, I was a wife to one rebel commander, then another junior commander and then two 'older' rebel soldiers. I had one child who died when he was a few days old. I was a slave to the rebels for 19 months. I do not think I will marry again"
-- A (now 18-year-old) girl, abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army
During armed conflict, women and girls are continually threatened by rape, domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, humiliation and severe injury. They are at risk at home, while they are fleeing wars, and in camps for refugees and other displaced persons.
The people who commit sexual violence include the husbands and friends of the women and girls, but most acts of sexual violence are committed by soldiers. Sexual attacks are used during wars to humiliate and terrorize the population. Military officers often ignore sexual crimes committed by their soldiers but are now starting to face criminal charges for these crimes. The Rome Statute that creates the International Criminal Court recognizes that acts of sexual violence are war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Sexual violence is particularly devastating to children, and has a great negative effect on their physical and emotional development. A sexual assault can infect a child with a sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/AIDS. This will damage their health, harm their ability to have children, and can cause death. Sexual violence also causes intense feelings of humiliation and anguish. These feelings lead many girls to withdraw into a shell of pain and denial, or even commit suicide. Women and girls may suffer in silence because they fear more attacks or rejection by their family. Many young women also face tough decisions as they confront pregnancy resulting from rape.
Consider this
Adolescents have identified some of the resources and specific programs they need:
- Those who commit acts of sexual violence during armed conflict violate international law.
- Programs to help refugee victims of sexual violence require the full involvement of local communities.
- International Criminal Tribunals in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia punished sexual violence in a civil war for the first time.
Graça Machel Recommends
- Gathering information on women and girls forced into prostitution in conflict situations, and on the situation of women and the children born following rape.
- Ensuring that people who commit crimes against women and girls are brought to justice.
- Peacekeepers should have high standards for conduct and those who commit crimes against women and children should be investigated and punished.
- All humanitarian responses should provide special assistance according to the needs of women and girls in conflict situations.
Definitions
Refugees = a person who is forced to flee to another country
AIDS = AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a disease that destroys the human body\s immune system. This means that people with the disease lose the ability to fight off other diseases and infections, and can die as a result of common illnesses. AIDS is most commonly spread through unprotected sex, or by sharing needles for drugs.
HIV = HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that scientists and doctors believe causes AIDS.
|
