Rape as a Weapon of War - Essay Example

RAPE AS A WEAPON OF WAR Rape during the onset of a war is currently considered as a novel phenomenon, as it has been reported that the number of cases has escalated in the more recent wars around the world. This phenomenon started in the middle of the 1990's, wherein rape camps have been observed to be erected in specific location in war zones. The frequency of rape has significantly increased in wars in the last few decades and this is mainly due to the improvement of the strategies involved in the operations of war activities. In addition, the political goals of each war has also become more complicated, thus resulting in a higher numbers and more complicated rape cases. The major victims of rape during wars are females of all ages, including young girls and adult women. However, it should be understood that males can also be victims of rape during war. Regardless of the nature of the rape incident, it has long been established that the effects of rape on an individual is of a wide spectrum. Rape general physical harm to an individual, as this action is an intentional violation of the body of the victim. In addition, rape also generates a sense of severe devastation in the victim, resulting in the deterioration of their mental health and their quality of life (Lonar et al., 2006). The damage associated with rape not only affects the victim, but also his or her family. The relatives of the victim often feel bitterness, anger and fear towards to the incident and the perpetrators of the crime, while they feel pity and sadness for their victim. Rape also affects the rest of the social environment of the victim, as they would be fearful of having to experience the same violation at any given moment. Rape during wars has recently been considered as a feature of recent clashes between groups and it has been observed that this action can be further classified as either isolated or systematic. In the case of isolated rape cases, its incidence is often equated as to be a less planned incident that could have been performed by a few members of a group that is engaged in a war. The more complex rape cases are considered to be systematic in implementation, as this often involves the intrusion of a group of fighters into a community and preventing any members from escaping the area. Systematic rape during war thus includes the separation of the males from the females and subsequently performing the heinous crime. There are several reasons why rape is now being considered as a weapon of war. Firstly, it should be understood that women are considered as an essential component of every group of individuals. Women are considered as the caretakers of both the homes and the family, thus this gender plays an important role in the upkeep of society. In most cultures, every woman is considered as a partner of a man and thus this individual represents the private life of every man. Performing rape during a war would thus instill a sense of helplessness and failure in the part of the men of opposing group. One of the more serious actions of rape during war is involving performing the action in the sight of captive men. The knowledge of having women and young girls raped is generally hurtful to the men of the community, yet watching this act being performed is even more painful. In some barbaric war incidents, the captive men are usually tied up to render them incapable of moving and the women and girls are raped right in front of these people. Rape is thus used as a weapon of war because this heinous action can inflict pain on individuals, probably equal or even worse than the impact of physical harm. Another possible reason of using rape as a weapon of war is that this action can serve as an instrument in prolonging the suffering of the victims. Wars are often associated with anger of one group against the other. The basis of this disagreement is commonly based on principles of culture, politics or religion. When two groups are at war, the main aim of each party is to inflict harm and pain on the members of the opposing group. However, it should be understood that wars have become more intricate in the last few decades because these group not only want to kill their enemies, but to also make them suffer before they finally lose their breath. The psychological effect of prolonging the suffering of an individual includes the generation of satisfaction in the opposing war group. The observation of suffering among their enemies imparts a sense of empowerment in a war group (Figure 1). This sensation is very different from that perceived from instantly killing the enemies through bombings, as this would immediately result in the death of their enemies. Rape can thus be considered as a weapon of war because this action can inflict pain and suffering for an extended during of time. Figure 1. Rape victims of Congo. [Source: http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/08/22/darfur-rape-victim-women_5106.jpg] The current frequency of rape cases during wars of the past few days has significantly increased. In addition to the notion of torturing the members of the opposing group through rape, the effect of this action can also be felt years and decades after the war. The physical assault of rape during wars can result in unwanted pregnancies, thus resulting in children being born from the act. The sense of having the genes and blood of the enemy within the group instills a sense of achievement in the part of the stronger group. The continuation of their genes in the other group may serve as a representation that they have invaded and conquered the territory of their enemy. Rape during wars can also result in the inability of women and girls to conceive. It is possible that some parts of their body, especially those associated with their reproductive organs, may have been damaged during the rape. It is also possible that the victims have been disabled when they were raped during the war. These victims could thus not only be incapable of conceiving, but also unable to perform normal tasks such as walking or even standing. Rape during wars can also be devastating to a population because it results in a certain form of social isolation or discrimination (Figure 2). Figure 2. Rape victim of Congo showing mental devastation. [Source: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-090311-congo-rape/ss-090312-congo-rape-tease.300w.jpg] When a certain individual is known to have been raped during a recent war, society unjustly sees the victim as unsuitable for any relationship. In a more serious situation, the victims are usually regarded as not fit or not worthy for a marriage. It is thus very unfortunate to have rape victims suffer not only during the act of the rape itself, but continue on with their anguish years and possibly decades after the assault. Additional features of rape that renders it as a weapon of war include the mutilation of particular parts of the victim's body (Figure 3). Figure 3. Physical mutilation of a rape victim of a war in Sierra Leone. [Source: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol18no4/panos_sierraleone_amputee.jpg] The observation of physical harm on a victim may be considered as an equivalent method of fighting the enemy, as this would result in extreme and extended suffering of the victim. In some cases, women and girls are held captive for some time before they are raped, as this would also inflict pain for an extended during of time. It may also be possible to keep these victims in captive for weeks or months, with rape being performed several times until the victims are finally incapable of surviving another assault. Should the victims of rape during war survive this period of suffering, these individuals are often observed to be incapable of leading a normal life after the war. It has been reported that most victims of rape during war were unable to maintain their households, resulting in frustration and anger in the part of the husbands and their rest of the society. The rape victims are also unable to care for their children and this may result in the poor health and illnesses in the family. It is also possible for rape victims to be ostracized from the rest of the society, as people would not want to interact with these individuals as they are often observed to show signs of shock and mental disorder. It is also unfortunate that some families may even reject any relatives who have been raped during a war, as they would feel that they have to get rid of a curse that is present within their family. Rape was historically considered as by-product of a war but based on the current features and frequency of this heinous act, rape can now be classified as a strong weapon of war. Reference Lonar, M., Medved, V., Jovanovi, N. and Hotujac, L. (2006). Psychological consequences of rape on women in 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatian Medical Journal, 47, 67-75. Read More