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Violence against women during conflict

The shame of war: sexual violence against women and girls in conflict

Sexual violence against women and girls during and after conflict and war times

Authors: J. Ward; C. Horwood; C. McEvoy; P. Shipman; L. Rumble
Publisher: Integrated Regional Information Networks, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2007

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This IRIN publication is a reference book and photo essay of portraits and testimonies of the sexual violence women suffer when men go to war. It examines the scope and nature of this violence and looks at the different ways the international community is addressing sexual violence against women and girls during and after conflict.

The book’s primary focus is on sexual crimes in war, its impact on women’s lives, and efforts to turn the tide against the practise of using women’s bodies as battlegrounds. It includes harrowing personal testimonies from raped and abused women which are part of the following chapters:

  • sexual violence against women and girls in conflict
  • perpetrators and motivation: understanding rape and sexual violence in war
  • sexual violence & international law
  • sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers and aid workers
  • seeking post-conflict justice
  • neglected challenges: the humanitarian responsibility to protect

The Shame of War is IRIN’s second publication on gender-based violence. The first publication: “Broken Bodies, Broken Dreams: violence against women exposed” was released in 2005.