Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict

Abstract

When we think about weapons of war, guns, bullets, and bombs come to our mind, not rape or sexual violence. But rape does more than just wound, it is a military strategy used to deny and destroy the identity of a targeted community. Historically, sexual violence in armed conflicts was considered a byproduct of war, simply as unrestrained sexual behaviour amid lawlessness and a breakdown of societal infrastructure. By digging deeper into the aims and intentions, sexual violence developed into a strategic tool of discrimination and hate, and a weapon of warfare, largely targeted at humiliation, torture, demoralisation, and individual or collective shaming. This article will discuss the evolution of recognising sexual violence as a crime from ancient times, when it was not a crime at all. By spotlighting these facts, this article will define a comprehensive understanding of sexual violence acts in armed conflict considered as a crime. There will be a discussion on the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s prosecutorial strategy on perpetrators and some existing obstacles of the ICC in addressing and charging sexual violence.