Understanding sexual violence in armed conflict: cutting ourselves with Occam’s razor

Abstract

Sexual violence has been firmly put on the internal agenda of the humanitarian community. Despite commendable advances in both policy and practice, there continues to be a gap between what is recommended and the reality in the field. In this paper, I argue that, notwithstanding the profound challenges of working in humanitarian emergencies, our understanding of sexual violence in conflict is watered down to such an extent that it impedes effective humanitarian action. First, humanitarians' reductionist approach to sexual violence not only disregards victims/survivors other than the stereotypical but also exempts perpetrators from scrutiny-including the international humanitarian community itself, through whose extensive depoliticisation of sexual violence has erased the link between gender inequality and violence. Second, the international humanitarian community has positioned itself as the white, western, heroic protector of vulnerable women and girls (and not men and boys)-a narrative that not only escalates power differences between humanitarian and beneficiary but also reproduces the subordination of women. Third, an exposé of silences in international discourses about sexual violence in armed conflict shows the humanitarian community's complicity in reproducing systems of gender inequality that allow for sexual violence to occur and remain unaddressed, by refusing to transform the restrictive political environment that ultimately impedes effective humanitarian action. This analysis of humanitarian sexual violence discourses indicates a mismatch between the nature of the issue and the way in which it is understood, leading to ineffective programmes on the ground. Humanitarians' engagement with critical research, as well as researchers' engagement with feminism, may recreate meanings that benefit our understanding rather than impede it.

Pathways to care: IDPs seeking health support and justice for sexual and gender-based violence through social connections in Garowe and Kismayo, Somalia and South Kivu, DRC

“…We argue that answering these questions is essential to holistically address SGBV and thereby contribute to a growing literature of those investigating the complexity and systemic issue of SGBV in conflict and post-conflict areas. ( Baaz and Stern, 2010 , Anholt, 2016 ).…”

“The thing with sexual exploitation”: gender representations and the Brazilian military in an UN peace mission

“…A large body of feminist literature in international relations has focused on sexual and gender violence in conflict settings, and how what has been called "Women, Peace and Security" governance regime has been translated into practices and an agenda with which international law practitioners and agents on the field of humanitarian interventions interact (Shepherd 2020;Drumond 2023;Pratt and Ritcher-Devoe 2011;Kirby and Shepherd 2016). But less has been done to reflect on the ways humanitarian intervention might not be the solution of gender-based violence and, more importantly, little evidence exists to prove that these existing policies have done any real difference in decreasing it (Anholt 2016).…”

Gender-based violence in a complex humanitarian context: Unpacking the human sufferings among stateless Rohingya women

“…During the Rwandan genocide (Human Rights Watch, 1996), and the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Carpenter, 2006), GBV was considered a tactical strategy during the pre-conflict, conflict escalation, and post-conflict phases (Leatherman, 2011). Because of differential social roles, norms, and identities, male and female experience violence differently in most societies (Anholt, 2016). Moreover, due to social and cultural constraints and fear of stigmatization, female victims are often reluctant to express or report on GBV or seek support during, or after, the violent incidents (Benjamin and Fancy, 1998).…”