The Real ‘War on Women’ (and children, and men)

This week, the UK kicked off the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which is co-chaired by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and actress/Special Envoy to the UN Angelina Jolie.  The Summit aims to raise awareness and provide practical solutions to the issue of sexual violence as a tool of terror in armed conflicts by bringing together representatives and citizens from hundreds of countries around the world.  In addition to the Summit conference and panel discussions, the UK’s Embassies and Consulate offices around the world are undertaking a “Global Rally” consisting of 84 continuous hours of events to draw attention to this issue and the connections it draws to human trafficking.

One such event was a panel discussion held at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  Sponsored by the British Consulate, the panel included a Rwandan genocide survivor, a professor of History and African Studies, a UK foreign policy Counsellor, a Carter Center project advisor, and a Department of Homeland Security Special Agent.  The panel provided enormous insight into an issue that has been ongoing for decades, but has only just recently garnered worldwide attention.  It is the aim of the UK for this week’s summit to be just the beginning of a global campaign that will continue with discussions at the NATO Summit in September.  Their belief is that it is far past  #TimetoAct.

While information on sexual violence in conflict and human trafficking can be overwhelming, in order for strides to be made, people must be informed.  Based on the panel discussion at the Carter Center, information being disseminated at the Global Summit, and additional research, some basic facts have emerged.

Sexual Violence in Conflict

• Neither sexual violence in conflict, nor human trafficking, are modern creations. However, the nature of wars and conflicts in today’s world differ from history.  Rarely is war one nation vs. another nation today, but instead ideological in nature, causing one group to fight another.
• During the Rwandan genocide of 1994, it is estimated that half a million girls and women were raped.
• According to UN, “more than 60,000 women were raped during the civil war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002), more than 40,000 in Liberia (1989-2003), up to 60,000 in the former Yugoslavia (1992-1995), and at least 200,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1998.” [Background Information on Sexual Violence used as a Tool of War]
• While no statistics are currently available, it is believed that rape is occurring in high numbers as the conflict in Syria rages on.
• An estimated 20 thousand pregnancies occurred in Rwanda as a result of sexual assaults.  Today, most of these children are abandoned.
• The kidnapping of Nigerian girls at the hands of Boko Haram falls under the UN classification of violence against women in conflict.
• Unfortunately, to date, only a small percentage of perpetrators have been prosecuted.

Human Trafficking

• Human trafficking has been linked to armed conflict and peace keeping missions, as those who are left to rebuild often find themselves without means and falling prey to organized crime.
• Current estimates show that 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking.
• Human trafficking generates tens of billions of dollars in revenue, and is second only to narcotics.
• While human trafficking encompasses a vast array of industries, 79% of victims end up sexually exploited.
• A growing number of women are becoming perpetrators.
• No country is immune. However, Europe receives the most diverse group of victims, while Asians are sent the farthest from home.
• Most victims are the same nationality as their perpetrator.
• In the US, a trafficking victim’s first night is typically spent with anywhere from 30-60 men.
• The majority of victims in prostitution start at the age of 14.
• Most victims have a distrust of law enforcement, making it harder to catch and prosecute human traffickers.

Despite having 4/5 of UN nations sign a treaty making these acts violations of Human Rights, the number of victims is still staggering, and the number of prosecutions dismal.  One reason is that the international community is great about discussing (even monitoring) events, but they seldom act. When they do, it is often too late. According to experts, there are a few things that can be done.

• Raise awareness, such as promoting the #TimetoActcampaign.
• Embrace foreign policies that aim to prevent conflicts by being aware, and engaged, internationally.
• Allowing international coalition forces to engage quickly, and training them to understand and spot sexual violence and human trafficking.