Gender Violence: The Hidden War Crime
Astrid Aafjes
Women, Law and Development International
1996
135 pages
Sexual violence has been practiced against women during armed conflicts since the beginning of warfare, but until recently the international community perceived and accepted such gender-based abuse as an inevitable and widespread byproduct of war. Rape and other forms of sexual abuse have been explicitly or implicitly prohibited by most international and regional human rights and humanitarian laws for decades. Almost every country in the world has ratified and signed one or more of these instruments and, therefore, has obligations under multiple treaties to protect women against sexual violence during armed conflict. Yet, according to the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, rape remains the least condemned war crime.
Gender Violence: The Hidden War Crime explores
Women, Law and Development International
1996
- ISBN-13: 978-1890832087
135 pages
Sexual violence has been practiced against women during armed conflicts since the beginning of warfare, but until recently the international community perceived and accepted such gender-based abuse as an inevitable and widespread byproduct of war. Rape and other forms of sexual abuse have been explicitly or implicitly prohibited by most international and regional human rights and humanitarian laws for decades. Almost every country in the world has ratified and signed one or more of these instruments and, therefore, has obligations under multiple treaties to protect women against sexual violence during armed conflict. Yet, according to the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, rape remains the least condemned war crime.
Gender Violence: The Hidden War Crime explores
- which international, regional and national mechanisms protect civilian women against violence in armed conflict situations,
- why women find difficulties in getting access to an effective legal recourse procedure, and
- what improvements are necessary to prevent and protect women against state violence.