CANS 406 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Human Rights Watch, Genital Modification And Mutilation, Forced Exposure
22 May 2018
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Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in War
-SGBV is broader category than just rape
-It is a diverse category
-Human Rights Watch: “Gender-based violence is violence directed at an individual, male or
female, base don his or her specific gender role in society”
-SGBV expands our ideas about the costs of war – this is usually looked at economically or in
terms of deaths
-Takes into account more individuals and how they might be affected by war
-Includes: rape, coerced undressing, non-penetrative sexual assault, domestic violence, forced
impregnation/abortion, forced marriage, sexual slavery, sexual mutilation, forced exposure to
pornography, trafficking, imposition of virginity tests, sex-selective massacres, recruitment,
being forced to rape
-SGBV has come to be seen as a security issue
-4th Geneva Convention: “women shall be especially protected against any attach on their honor,
in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault”
-Sets out main elements of international law in terms of the conduct of war
-Talk of honor and dignity makes it seem that women’s honor is lost when they are assaulted or
raped, it is reductive
-Rome Statute of the ICC: recognizes that rape and sexual violence can be a crime against
humanity, especially when committed as a “widespread of systematic attack”, as well as
provisions for trying these acts as war crimes
-Really specific criteria for them to qualify as crimes
-The law is always a step behind the practice of war
-Lack of accountability for rape and gender-based violence in conflict
-SGBV is not always a strategic tool of war – it occurs for other reasons
-SGBV is often seen as inevitable, inherent to military life, a natural element of war
-Reflects the idea that men have untamable sexual needs, that rape is a spoil of war
-SGBV as a reflection of the collapse of state institutions and social norms, where war negates
normal circumstances/social practices
-Rape/SGBV as a tool to advance genocide, ethnic cleansing, humiliation of the opponent –
Cohen finds this isn’t applicable universally
-Fear/threat of SGBV clears civilian populations, drives people out (Syria)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Human rights watch: gender-based violence is violence directed at an individual, male or female, base don his or her specific gender role in society . Sgbv expands our ideas about the costs of war this is usually looked at economically or in terms of deaths. Takes into account more individuals and how they might be affected by war. Includes: rape, coerced undressing, non-penetrative sexual assault, domestic violence, forced impregnation/abortion, forced marriage, sexual slavery, sexual mutilation, forced exposure to pornography, trafficking, imposition of virginity tests, sex-selective massacres, recruitment, being forced to rape. Sgbv has come to be seen as a security issue. 4th geneva convention: women shall be especially protected against any attach on their honor, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault . Sets out main elements of international law in terms of the conduct of war.
