June 18, 2018

The plight and rights of children born of war

located:	Somalia, Syria, Central African Republic, Yemen, Senegal
editor:	Bob Koigi

Inside the world’s most atrocious conflicts, from Somalia and Central Africa Republic to Syria and Yemen, war always has a more intense impact on girls and women who endure a weapon used only on them by combatants: sexual attacks. 

This week, the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict; a time set aside by the United Nations to honour survivors and victims of sexual abuse, while paying homage to those who have gallantly fought, and even lost their lives to advocate for an end to these heinous acts.

It is indeed a traumatic experience for survivors who are faced with prevailing stigma in their communities, depression and unwanted pregnancies. Children born from rape have been known to struggle with their identity and are usually branded ‘bad blood’ or ‘children of the enemy’. Pushed to the limit, those raped opt for unsafe abortions that to date remain the largest cause of maternal deaths in war zones.

In his clarion call on this growing issue to the international community, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, has captured the plight of children born of war when saying, "Children conceived through wartime rape often struggle with issues of identity and belonging for decades after the guns have fallen silent. We amplify the voices of these forgotten victims of war, who suffer stigma, shame and exclusion in societies polarised by armed conflict."

There have been some gains in the fight to end sexual attacks in war zones, including the 2017 conviction of former Senegal President Hissène Habré for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which included sexual slavery and rape. It was a landmark moment for war torn countries to witness a former head of state held personally liable for rape as an international crime. Another milestone in the fight was the 2016 conviction of two former military officers for sexual violence during the war in Guatemala. This ruling marked the first time in history that a national court stood behind cases of sexual nature in an armed conflict.

With some monumental victories behind us, the road ahead is still bumpy. In order to eliminate sexual attacks from war zones, governments need to affirm their mandate to offer full support to victims, including expedited legal actions – through elaborate and strict local and international judicial mechanisms – against perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict.

Photo: CounterCurrents