Special Section:
International Progress in the VAW Movement

Armed Conflict and Violence Against Women

by Cheryl Hotchkiss

During armed conflicts, women and girls become the victims of grave human rights violations. The constant threat of violence leads to an incredible sense of insecurity which can only be addressed when the violence ends, the conflict is equitably resolved, justice for violations take place, and reconstruction efforts involving women and girls begin.

The abuse of women and girls during armed conflict is rooted in a global culture that denies females equal status with males. Social, political, and religious norms identify women and girls as the property of men. Violence against women and girls during armed conflicts is not accidental. It is a weapon of war used to achieve objectives such as ethnic cleansing, intimidation, spreading political terror, breaking a community’s resistance or attacking its ‘honour,’ rewarding soldiers, or extracting information.

While armed conflict affects women and girls in context-specific ways, certain trends are common. For example, in the pre-conflict period, women and girls often experience violence resulting from increased militarization. During conflicts, violations include physical assault, torture (including many forms of sexual assault), slavery (sexual and/or domestic), economic hardship, forced displacement, and death.

Once the armed conflict has ended, women and girls rarely have adequate access to resources to begin to repair their bodies, souls, and minds. As a result of the violence, they may suffer from sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental or physical illnesses. Women and girls who are known to have been raped, or who have become pregnant and/or HIV positive, may be cast out of their families and communities. As caretakers, women and girls work to support their families and communities under horrific conditions. The loss of male family members may deny a woman’s access to resources with which to support herself and her family. Out of desperation, women and girls often resort to selling themselves sexually or through other forms of servitude. (This also occurs during conflicts.)

The impact of armed conflict may be exacerbated in the case of girls, who may be intentionally targeted because of their age. Economic hardship may be worse for them as they are forced to seek income to care for family members, often sacrificing education and future development. Physical and psychological trauma may have a worse impact on girls than women due to their age and stage of physical, mental, social, and emotional development.

Addressing the fundamental discrimination experienced by women and girls the world over is the only way to stop violence against girls and women, either during armed conflicts or peacetime. Ensuring that the voices of women and girls are heard and enabling them to access decision-making power are necessary first steps. Moreover, implementing the ideas of women and girls is essential to ending the raging conflicts that end or permanently damage the lives of thousands of people every year. 

Cheryl Hotchkiss is the national campaign coordinator of the Stop the Violence against Women Campaign for Amnesty International Canada (English). An energetic women’s rights, and business and human rights activist, she is also a mother of two and an amateur triathlete. For more information on the Amnesty International Stop Violence against Women campaign, please visit www.amnesty.ca/stoptheviolence.