Gender based violence (GBV) is a complex, multidimensional problem which the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2005) describes as a ‘universal phenomenon’. So much so, that GBV is recognised as a serious human rights and public health problem that concerns all members of society, (Murray and Lopez, 1996, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005). Subsequently, GBV has been incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals, where reducing GBV will have a direct effect on achieving Goal three; the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. This issue has gained international attention, as a direct result of civil conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda, where human rights abuses were seen violated on a magnitude never before recorded and described as acts of genocide, (United Nations Security Council, UNSC, 1999). In Rwanda, it is thought that about 500,000 women were raped by Hutu militia, (Human Rights Watch, 1996). Further atrocities have been documented in Sierra Leone, where approximately 50,000 to 64,000 internally displaced women have reported war-related sexual assaults (Physicians for Human Rights, 2002). In Kenya, following the disputed presidential elections in 2008, violence erupted which saw acts of sexual violence (SV), such as, gang rape and mutilation. United Nations (UN, 2007) reports suggest that 27, 000 rapes occurred in one region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2007. SV has been predominant in many other conflicts such as in Uganda (Giller et al, 1991) and Sudan (Amnesty International, 2004).
Research on this area tends to use the terms GBV and SV interchangeably and cannot be explored fully in this paper. There is limited research focusing on violence against males, and therefore this paper will concentrate on SV against women specifically. This paper will discuss why SV has become part of warfare in Sub-Saharan Africa and then examine the treatment programmes aimed at survivors, in particular focusing on the barriers to effective implementation of programmes.
Table of Contents
1. Discuss the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sub-Saharan African conflicts and examine the barriers preventing effective implementation of sexual violence programmes
2. References
3. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to explore why sexual violence (SV) has emerged as a strategic instrument of warfare within Sub-Saharan African conflicts, while simultaneously evaluating the specific barriers that hinder the successful implementation of support and treatment programmes for survivors.
- The role of sexual violence as a systematic and strategic tool of war and ethnic cleansing.
- The profound socio-economic, physical, and psychological impact of SV on women and their communities.
- Evaluation of existing humanitarian guidelines and institutional responses to SV.
- Analysis of structural, informational, and cultural barriers affecting healthcare access for survivors.
- The importance of community-based programmes and the necessity for system-wide reform.
Excerpt from the Book
Discuss the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sub-Saharan African conflicts and examine the barriers preventing effective implementation of sexual violence programmes
Gender based violence (GBV) is a complex, multidimensional problem which the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2005) describes as a ‘universal phenomenon’. So much so, that GBV is recognised as a serious human rights and public health problem that concerns all members of society, (Murray and Lopez, 1996, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005). Subsequently, GBV has been incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals, where reducing GBV will have a direct effect on achieving Goal three; the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. This issue has gained international attention, as a direct result of civil conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda, where human rights abuses were seen violated on a magnitude never before recorded and described as acts of genocide, (United Nations Security Council, UNSC, 1999). In Rwanda, it is thought that about 500,000 women were raped by Hutu militia, (Human Rights Watch, 1996). Further atrocities have been documented in Sierra Leone, where approximately 50,000 to 64,000 internally displaced women have reported war-related sexual assaults (Physicians for Human Rights, 2002). In Kenya, following the disputed presidential elections in 2008, violence erupted which saw acts of sexual violence (SV), such as, gang rape and mutilation. United Nations (UN, 2007) reports suggest that 27, 000 rapes occurred in one region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2007. SV has been predominant in many other conflicts such as in Uganda (Giller et al, 1991) and Sudan (Amnesty International, 2004).
Research on this area tends to use the terms GBV and SV interchangeably and cannot be explored fully in this paper. There is limited research focusing on violence against males, and therefore this paper will concentrate on SV against women specifically. This paper will discuss why SV has become part of warfare in Sub-Saharan Africa and then examine the treatment programmes aimed at survivors, in particular focusing on the barriers to effective implementation of programmes.
Summary of Chapters
Discuss the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sub-Saharan African conflicts and examine the barriers preventing effective implementation of sexual violence programmes: This chapter provides an introduction to the prevalence of sexual violence in Sub-Saharan conflicts, justifies the focus on women as survivors, and outlines the scope of the paper regarding the strategic use of SV and the barriers to aid.
References: This section compiles the academic sources and reports utilized throughout the paper to support the analysis of SV in conflict zones.
Bibliography: This section provides supplementary reading and literature related to gender-based violence, humanitarian responses, and conflict studies.
Keywords
Sexual violence, Sub-Saharan Africa, armed conflict, humanitarian aid, gender-based violence, survivors, healthcare, stigmatisation, ethnic cleansing, reproductive health, policy, psychosocial support, warfare, human rights, interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the strategic deployment of sexual violence in Sub-Saharan African conflicts and the systemic difficulties faced when attempting to provide effective support and medical programmes for survivors.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the use of SV as a tool for ethnic cleansing, its long-term physical and psychological impacts, the failure of international guidelines to translate into local practice, and the socio-cultural barriers that deter women from seeking care.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to understand why SV is utilized as a weapon of war and to identify the specific obstacles—such as lack of training, scarcity of resources, and social stigma—that prevent the effective implementation of care programmes.
Which methodology is employed?
The paper employs a comprehensive literature review and critical analysis of existing humanitarian reports, policy documents from organizations like the WHO and UNHCR, and academic studies on conflict-affected regions.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It covers the historical context of SV, the impact on survivors and communities, the current state of humanitarian interventions, and the specific informational and socio-cultural barriers faced by healthcare workers.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as sexual violence, armed conflict, humanitarian aid, survivors, healthcare access, and stigmatisation.
Why is sexual violence considered a "tool of biological warfare" in this context?
It is described as such because it is used deliberately to terrorize populations, ensure ethnic cleansing through forced impregnation, and intentionally spread diseases like HIV to affect future generations.
How does the author describe the role of healthcare workers in this crisis?
The author notes that while healthcare workers are vital, they often lack the specialized training needed to recognize and treat survivors, and their own personal biases or cultural conflicts can sometimes hinder the patient-provider relationship.
What role does social stigma play in hindering healthcare access?
Stigma is a major determinant; women fear being branded "contaminated" by their husbands or communities, which can lead to social ostracism or even expulsion from their homes, discouraging them from coming forward for medical help.
Does the author suggest that current programs are sufficient?
No, the author concludes that despite some progress, current programs struggle due to difficulties in data collection, unstable environments, and a lack of system-wide reforms that address the deeper cultural and social attitudes toward rape.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nicola Weston (Autor:in), 2010, Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War in Sub-Saharan African Conflicts, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/171883
