Rape by Terrorists: UN Report – Sexual Violence as a Weapon of Terrorism
By Dulcie Leimbach, WUNRN, May 02, 2017.
Yazidi resistance fighters in Sinjar, Iraq, 2015. A new UN report
documents sexual violence against women in war, including attacks by ISIS on a
“horrific scale.” CREATIVE COMMONS
documents sexual violence against women in war, including attacks by ISIS on a
“horrific scale.” CREATIVE COMMONS
Moving away from strictly categorizing rape and other sexual abuse
against women as a weapon of war, the new annual report from the United Nations on sexual
violence against women in conflict addresses its increasing use as a weapon of
terrorism. The report also documents how mass migration has led to further
sexual violence against women through human trafficking by extremist groups
like ISIS and has enabled a flourishing black market in such trade across the
world.
against women as a weapon of war, the new annual report from the United Nations on sexual
violence against women in conflict addresses its increasing use as a weapon of
terrorism. The report also documents how mass migration has led to further
sexual violence against women through human trafficking by extremist groups
like ISIS and has enabled a flourishing black market in such trade across the
world.
The report will be spotlighted at a UN Security Council debate on women,
peace and security on May 15. The document also tackles problems associated
with post-sexual-violence: stigma; contracting of infectious diseases; handling
of children of rape; loss of livelihoods and destitution; and other social
taboos and damages that can ruin victims for life.
peace and security on May 15. The document also tackles problems associated
with post-sexual-violence: stigma; contracting of infectious diseases; handling
of children of rape; loss of livelihoods and destitution; and other social
taboos and damages that can ruin victims for life.
By acknowledging sexual violence as a weapon of terrorism, the report
says, global actions to stop terrorist financing can include a link to this
criminality and be tied into relevant sanctions regimes. Rape has been
recognized as a war crime by the UN and international tribunals and courts for
decades.
says, global actions to stop terrorist financing can include a link to this
criminality and be tied into relevant sanctions regimes. Rape has been
recognized as a war crime by the UN and international tribunals and courts for
decades.
The report, covering all of 2016, comes from the office of the UN secretary-general,
António Guterres. It is a yearly endeavor made possible by the UN special envoy
on sexual violence against women in conflict and certain UN agencies. The envoy office has changed leadership recently,
with Pramila Patten of Mauritius coming aboard in mid-June, replacing Zainab
Hawa Bangura of Sierra Leone.
António Guterres. It is a yearly endeavor made possible by the UN special envoy
on sexual violence against women in conflict and certain UN agencies. The envoy office has changed leadership recently,
with Pramila Patten of Mauritius coming aboard in mid-June, replacing Zainab
Hawa Bangura of Sierra Leone.
The term “conflict-related sexual violence” in the report refers to
rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion,
enforced sterilization, forced marriage and “any other form of sexual violence
of comparable gravity” inflicted on women, men, girls and boys directly or
indirectly linked to a conflict.
rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion,
enforced sterilization, forced marriage and “any other form of sexual violence
of comparable gravity” inflicted on women, men, girls and boys directly or
indirectly linked to a conflict.
The report covers 19 countries for which credible information is
available, collected by UN specialists. It also features a list of 46 parties
using sexual violence against women in conflict, with the majority being armed
terrorists like Al Qaeda and Boko Haram. National military and police forces
are hardly immune, however, to such crimes, with Afghanistan, Somalia, South
Sudan, Sudan and Syria also featured in the list.
available, collected by UN specialists. It also features a list of 46 parties
using sexual violence against women in conflict, with the majority being armed
terrorists like Al Qaeda and Boko Haram. National military and police forces
are hardly immune, however, to such crimes, with Afghanistan, Somalia, South
Sudan, Sudan and Syria also featured in the list.
In 2016, sexual violence as a tactic of war was employed through
“widespread and strategic rapes” committed by parties usually in conjunction
with other sprees, like killing, looting and pillaging but also in “urban
warfare” — such as house searches and at militia checkpoints. Sexual violence
by extremists lands a special place in the report, as it is a big tool for
recruitment but also an ideology: controlling women’s reproductive rights and
as chattel in slavery markets in ISIS-held territory, for example, in Syria and
Iraq.
“widespread and strategic rapes” committed by parties usually in conjunction
with other sprees, like killing, looting and pillaging but also in “urban
warfare” — such as house searches and at militia checkpoints. Sexual violence
by extremists lands a special place in the report, as it is a big tool for
recruitment but also an ideology: controlling women’s reproductive rights and
as chattel in slavery markets in ISIS-held territory, for example, in Syria and
Iraq.
Women are also used as “wages of war”: gifts for in-kind compensation to
fighters; as suicide bombers; and as human shields, among other purposes.
fighters; as suicide bombers; and as human shields, among other purposes.
Despite the rising use of women and girls as weapons in wars,
convictions are rare. A faint light of progress in overcoming the phenomenon is
that the “era of silence” by national and international institutions is giving
way to urgent diplomacy, the report suggests. Nevertheless, even where laws,
policies and codified responses are in place, when hostilities flare or
reignite, sexual violence is a cheap, accessible weapon in the battle.
convictions are rare. A faint light of progress in overcoming the phenomenon is
that the “era of silence” by national and international institutions is giving
way to urgent diplomacy, the report suggests. Nevertheless, even where laws,
policies and codified responses are in place, when hostilities flare or
reignite, sexual violence is a cheap, accessible weapon in the battle.
Here are some notable country trends, statistics and new concerns that
occurred in 2016:
occurred in 2016:
• Central African Republic: The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca,
recorded 179 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, mostly on ethnic and
sectarian lines, by all militias in the country. That number includes 54 gang
rapes.
recorded 179 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, mostly on ethnic and
sectarian lines, by all militias in the country. That number includes 54 gang
rapes.
• Colombia: A well-thought-out legal framework on conflict-related
sexual violence, instituted as part of the country’s peace negotiations ending
its 50-plus years of civil war, enables unprecedented access to justice. Yet
only 2 percent of the 634 cases have led to convictions so far.
sexual violence, instituted as part of the country’s peace negotiations ending
its 50-plus years of civil war, enables unprecedented access to justice. Yet
only 2 percent of the 634 cases have led to convictions so far.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: The UN peacekeeping mission,
Monusco, whose troop numbers were recently cut on demand by the United States
under Ambassador Nikki Haley, verified 514 cases of sexual violence, including
340 women. Most attacks were done by nonstate armed groups and a quarter by
state forces, of whom 100 have been convicted.
Monusco, whose troop numbers were recently cut on demand by the United States
under Ambassador Nikki Haley, verified 514 cases of sexual violence, including
340 women. Most attacks were done by nonstate armed groups and a quarter by
state forces, of whom 100 have been convicted.
• Iraq: ISIS continued to commit sexual violence on a “horrific scale,”
especially in territory it holds, where 971 Yazidi women and girls have fled
the grip of the extremists while almost 2,000 remain in their hands. But even
freed victims are not free: they face tremendous stigmatization and difficulty
reintegrating into their conservative society.
especially in territory it holds, where 971 Yazidi women and girls have fled
the grip of the extremists while almost 2,000 remain in their hands. But even
freed victims are not free: they face tremendous stigmatization and difficulty
reintegrating into their conservative society.
• Libya: As a transit country for waves of migrants and refugees — about
163,000 people traveled through the lawless country to reach Italy by sea in
2016 — women and girls are exposed to attacks by smuggling rings and in
detention centers en route to the Libyan coast. Media have reported that women
prefer to risk the almost-deadly conditions of crossing the Mediterranean than
to stay too long in Libya and be subjected to pervasive threats of rape.
163,000 people traveled through the lawless country to reach Italy by sea in
2016 — women and girls are exposed to attacks by smuggling rings and in
detention centers en route to the Libyan coast. Media have reported that women
prefer to risk the almost-deadly conditions of crossing the Mediterranean than
to stay too long in Libya and be subjected to pervasive threats of rape.
• South Sudan: It may win the prize for the most incidences of
conflict-connected sexual violence in 2016, with the UN reporting 577 cases,
including 57 girls, some of whom were under 10 years old and even infants.
conflict-connected sexual violence in 2016, with the UN reporting 577 cases,
including 57 girls, some of whom were under 10 years old and even infants.
• Syria: All parties in the six-year war
stand accused of violence against women, done prolifically through house
searches, at checkpoints, in jails and in displacement camps and in refugee
camps outside the country. Forced marriages of young women and girls are also
part of the grisly picture, which has no end in sight.
stand accused of violence against women, done prolifically through house
searches, at checkpoints, in jails and in displacement camps and in refugee
camps outside the country. Forced marriages of young women and girls are also
part of the grisly picture, which has no end in sight.
Direct
Link to FULL 33-PAGE 2017 UN Report:
Link to FULL 33-PAGE 2017 UN Report:
