Rape, torture, and traumatization of Bosnian and Croatian women: Psychological sequelae.

Abstract

The first 25 Bosnian women admitted to the Zagreb Obstetrics and Gynaecological Clinic or its associated regional psychiatric centers were assessed using both clinical and post-traumatic stress disorder interviews. Most of the women had been multiply traumatized; all had been repeatedly raped. Psychological status was assessed for those women who were not impregnated, for those impregnated who received abortions, and for those impregnated who carried the fetus to term.

Individual Differences in Posttraumatic Distress: Problems with the DSM-IV Model

“…Active confrontation exposures with symbolic or real oppressors or stressors achieve mixed results (259) including harm (260,261). Open emotional expressions of loss and suffering are not reliably conducive to recovery; bereaved spouses displaying more emotionality later show poorer outcome (262), and denial of emotions is associated with better adjustment in Holocaust survivors (263).…”

Female victims of torture

“…Only a few studies on female refugees that we know of have been published and they have focused mainly on sexual abuse and psychological sequelae. [6][7][8][11][12][13][14] However, those studies indicate that sexual abuse is a strong determining factor for the development of PTSD, which could be one explanation for the higher prevalence of PTSD among the women in this study.…”

“…7 At least one study comprising 25 Bosnian women subjected to torture and rape has assessed the psychiatric sequels. 8 Strangulation during rape was mentioned in 20%. Special torture methods were rarely mentioned such as 8 cases of electric torture, 5 cases of suspension and 4 cases of falaka (beating of the feet).…”

Malala Yousafzai e as meninas esquecidas do Boko Haram

“…A ONU estima que foram violentadas cerca de 50 mil mulheres na antiga Iugoslávia com o perverso objetivo de provocar a gravidez forç ada e alcançar a eliminação étnica. 17 Cerca de 20 mil mulheres jovens e meninas em Uganda podem ser infectadas pelo HIV a cada ano como resultado do estupro praticado por forças militares ou milícias armadas. 18 Enquanto situaç ões como essas causam profunda perplexidade nos países ocidentais, muitos indicadores locais fortemente negativos para as mulheres não provocam semelhante indignação, nem resultam nas mesmas respostas públicas ou governamentais.…”