In instances of Rape and Genocide, Impunity serves as an Assured Outcome.
In instances of Rape and Genocide, Impunity serves as an Assured Outcome.
In various instances of alleged modern-day genocides, perpetrators have utilized rape and sexual abuse as a tool of terror against both women's bodies and the communities they represent.
In 2014, ISIS invaded Sinjar, Iraq, leaving a trail of horrific atrocities upon the Yazidi community. Thousands were slaughtered, primarily men and elderly women, while thousands more were kidnapped, including young boys forced into becoming child soldiers. Women and girls were subjected to a plethora of sexual violence such as rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancies, abortions, and numerous other forms of torture. To this day, over 2,600 Yazidi women and children remain missing, and only a handful of ISIS members have been charged for their involvement in the sexual violence against the Yazidi women.
Between 2016 and 2017, Myanmar's military targeted the Rohingya, an ethno-religious minority group, driving close to one million of them to seek refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. The Rohingya faced unthinkable terror, including rape, sexual slavery, and abduction. In several villages, women and girls were taken away, gang-raped, and then slaughtered or left severely injured. To this point, no one has been held accountable for these crimes.
In 2018, Chinese authorities imprisoned millions of Uyghurs in forced indoctrination camps, and shortly after, reports began to emerge of sexual abuse and violence within these camps. To date, no one has been brought to justice for these crimes.
In 2020, during the Tigray conflict, stories of rape and sexual abuse surfaced. This included gang rapes that lasted for multiple weeks and the use of metal rods inserted into the victims' vaginas, causing severe and possibly irreversible harm. Despite the ceasefire accord, rape and sexual violence are still rampant, and no one has been held responsible.
In 2022, during Russia's attack on Ukraine, rape and sexual violence once again became a weapon of choice, and some individuals are currently under investigation for these crimes.
Yet again, in 2023, rape and sexual abuse reappeared in Darfur, twenty years after the previous genocide, as the situation in Sudan spiraled out of control. No one has been convicted for these crimes.
Throughout these instances, rape and sexual abuse were deliberately employed – rape is not just a means to harm the victims, but it harms families and communities as well.
In most of these cases, justice and accountability have been scarce, and when provided, it often lacks a comprehensive focus on rape and sexual abuse as part of the overall genocidal campaign. Moreover, victims/survivors of rape and sexual abuse are typically left without appropriate support to assist in their healing and recovery, a theme that continues to be highlighted by states and international bodies.
Genocide is a term that should not be used carelessly. It is defined legally, requiring consideration of the definition whenever discussing the issue. Genocide refers to certain prohibited acts carried out with the intent to eliminate, in whole or in part, a specific national, ethnic, religious, or racial group.
However, alleged genocides and genocides that involve rape and sexual abuse as methods of genocide have become increasingly common in recent years, seeking shelter within impunity for two often neglected atrocities – genocide and rape. When these two crimes intersect, impunity seems to guarantee a safe haven.
Our role as the international community is to uphold our duties – to prevent and punish genocide. As outlined in the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), we have a legal obligation to take action. Despite the adoption of this treaty in 1948, too few countries have the necessary mechanisms to identify genocides and take action to prevent them, with the political will often lacking, or action coming too late. Even in 2007, when the International Court of Justice declared that a state's obligation to prevent and act arises the minute a state becomes aware or reasonably should have known of the existence of a serious risk of genocide, action has remained scarce. Even in situations where genocide has been allegedly committed, those responsible for the crimes often roam freely across the affected territories.
In early December 2024, Dr. Denis Mukwege, a renowned gynecologist, human rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and resident of east Congo, hosted the 5th Congress of the Mukwege International Chair in Montreal, Canada, focusing on ending gender-based violence, women's empowerment, and sustainable development. During the conference, Baroness Helic, a member of the UK House of Lords, proposed the establishment of a new permanent international commission on sexual violence in conflict, intended to serve as a source of knowledge and expertise on investigating the crime. As a permanent body, it could offer assistance to strengthen existing investigative capabilities and help gather evidence.
Emphasizing the necessity to put an end to sexual assault and violence, whether acting independently as a crime or incorporated within genocide and other worldwide offenses, is not something that can be left to chance. What's needed is robust policies, stringent laws, and most importantly, their thorough execution and implementation without exception.
On the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance and Respect for the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of Such Acts, we should acknowledge that the strategies employed thus far have been ineffective - a shift in tactics is required.
In response to the ongoing issue of genocide and sexual violence, the United Nations has called on countries to uphold their obligations under the Genocide Convention. Despite this, allegations of sexual abuse and violence have been reported in Iraq by ISIS, contributing to the Yazidi genocide. Similarly, Myanmar's military has been accused of rape and sexual slavery against the Rohingya, a case where justice remains elusive. China's treatment of the Uyghurs in forced indoctrination camps has also been marred by reports of sexual abuse. During the Tigray conflict in 2020, rape and sexual violence were rampant, with perpetrators still evading accountability. Even in the Darfur genocide, which occurred two decades ago, rape and sexual abuse have persisted without any convictions. These instances highlight the need for comprehensive action against genocide and sexual violence, with a strong focus on supporting victims and holding perpetrators accountable.