Violations of Women During Wartime

War impacts women on a global and local level. Describe the unique set of violations that women face in war. Should there be rules regarding the treatment of women in conflict?

The Geneva Convention specifically states in cases of war; Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault. Women often become the victims of rape and abuse during war time. Rape is utilized as a weapon of war and continues to terrorize women throughout war torn nations. In such situations as the one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo soldiers of the militias pillage through villages raping local women often while their husbands and children are forced to watch the act. According to the Huffington Post over 35,000 women have been raped as a result of the ongoing civil war in the Congo.

The weapon of rape is used to demoralize the women and men of the Congo as a tactic of war. Women are then severally ostracized by their communities and families after they are victimized by rape. It is often that these women become shunned and dismissed by their own husbands. In war women are often raped, and then abandoned. They then do not have access to appropriate treatment after the rapes have occurred.

Rape is an epidemic in war; it is safe to say that women are being raped daily in the Congo by members of the militias. The Congo is not one of the only war torn areas were rape is as common as gunfire; Burma as well has suffered a surge of rape. The HIV rate in Burma in recent years has hit astronomical numbers and the rape of innocent women and girls may attribute to the spread. In 1997 some “independent organizations estimate… 400,000 to 600,000 people were carrying HIV” (Irrawaddy 4).

Rape is not only an epidemic that has stricken the lives of civilian women during war. Sexual assault of female United States soldiers has been reported in recent years coming out Iraq. Janis Kaprinski reported that female officers would avoid drinking water late in the day in order to avoid using the latrines  at night, where the sexual assaults were  occurring (Benedict 2). The violation and disrespect of women is nothing new in the military; although could being in Iraq, at war, thousands of miles away from the states, provoke men to assault female soldiers? They could potentially feel as though raping their fellow soldiers in the night, far from home could easily be done without consequence. War and rape go hand in hand in all aspects of war.

Beyond rape women of war are left unable to support themselves during the desperate times wars create. Women in such countries as Afghanistan who lose their husbands in war time are often left unable to provide for their families. Often these women are without education or training and cannot seek out employment.

Women are undoubtedly victimized and often targeted during war. Civilian women should be treated as the Geneva Convention stipulates. Rape should not be allowed to be used as a weapon. Enslaving women, raping, and leaving them unable to fend for them self at the end of a war is far too common. It is a violation of human rights to leave women to the mercy of men during war times. The rules stated in the Geneva Convention are not enough to prevent the abuse of women.

Something must be done amongst the women and men of these fighting nations to prevent these atrocities. In Liberia Jackie Redd a former rape victim and child solider has begun to speak out for the women of Liberia (Thompson). She has suffered and lived to tell of her story; she is speaking out against the dismissal rape victims face from their peers. It is women like Jackie Redd that may change the conditions women of war face.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a film which depicts the stand the women of Liberia took against the violence in their country. Like Jackie Redd these Liberian women took it upon themselves to make a change for their people. While making the world outside of war torn nations aware it is also important nation work internally to make a change. These women can make the change, with the help of their fellow people.

Women On the Frontline gives us some insight on the suffering the women of the Congo face.

Works Cited

Benedict, Helen. “The private war of women soldiers | Salon News.” Salon.com – Breaking news, opinion, politics,             entertainment, sports and culture. Web. 21 Sept. 2009.<http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/03/07/women_in_military/index.html>.

“Heroin and HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma.” The Irrawaddy news magazine, Burma, Myanmar, Southeast Asia. Web. 23 Sept. 2009.<http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=1521&Submit=Submit>.

Schubert, Zach. “Reporters Uncensored: The Rape of the Congo.” Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 23 Sept. 2009. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reporters-uncensored/the-rape-of-the-congo_b_274738.html>.

Thompson, Megan. “Former Liberian rape victim and child soldier speaks out | Worldfocus.”Worldfocus: International News, Videos and Blogs. Web. 20 Sept. 2009.<http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/04/17/former-liberian-rape-victim-and-child-soldier-speaks-out/5021/>.

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