How violence against women and girls, including human trafficking, is used as a weapon of war

Today, June 19, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Below, learn how UNODC is working to provide survivor-centered and gender-responsive responses to sexual violence as part of its work to prevent and combat human trafficking.

Conflict-related sexual violence has long-term harmful effects on victims and is used as a tactic of war, torture and terrorism. It has devastating effects on physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health and destroys the social fabric of communities. Women and girls face brutal forms of sexual violence and armed groups often control access to medical services.

The recent conflict in Sudan is no exception. A report by the United Nations Secretary-General has documented hundreds of cases of sexual violence linked to the conflict in Sudan, including trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual slavery, forced marriage and the recruitment of young boys to participate to hostilities.

These figures represent only a fraction of the true scale of crime in the country, ravaged by a brutal civil war since 2023.

More than 160 women and girls were reportedly kidnapped, held in slave-like conditions and raped by armed forces. Many were sold in slave markets, transported in chains on the back of trucks across the country, and subjected to forced prostitution. Others were reportedly kidnapped, held in slave-like conditions and raped by armed forces. Many were sold in slave markets, transported in chains on the back of trucks across the country and subjected to forced prostitution by armed groups.

Alarmingly, such sexual violence has also been deliberately and systematically used in many other conflict zones against civilians, such as in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Libya, Ukraine and other countries. other countries.

Why is sexual violence deliberately used in conflicts?

Conflict-related sexual violence includes rape, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, forced abortion and forced sterilization.

It often aims to terrorize, torture, humiliate and repress civilian populations. It is perpetrated to assert control over territory or to punish entire ethnic, political, cultural, religious, and other groups suspected of supporting the enemy or for any perceived wrongdoing.

Depending on the context in which it is committed – notably as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians – it may be considered a war crime or a crime against humanity.

Many of these cases could also be classified as human trafficking.

Why do armed groups treat women for sexual exploitation?

Faced with serious violations of their fundamental human rights, people caught in conflict are more exposed to violence than ever and are often deliberately targeted by armed groups and criminals.

Research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that conflict increases people's vulnerability to human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced marriage as “wives” of militants, as well as the use of children as soldiers.

During times of conflict, armed groups recruit and abduct women and girls for use as sex slaves, forced marriages and domestic work.

Large numbers of soldiers can create a demand for labor and sexual services. Combined with weak rule of law and institutions, this leads to increased demand, often in conflict zones.

In August 2014, fighters from another terrorist group, the Islamic State (ISIL/Daesh), attacked the homes of Yazidis in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq.

This ancient religious minority has lived in this region for centuries and has long suffered from discrimination. Thousands of people were killed.

More than 6,000 Yazidis – mostly women and children – were enslaved. Many were bought and sold in markets and online for sexual exploitation. The trafficking generated significant profits for ISIL/Daesh, which also used it to attract new recruits.

In the same vein, thousands of women and girls have reportedly been kidnapped and sexually exploited by the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram since 2009, when it launched an insurgency in the country.

Who are the authors ?

Those who commit sexual violence in conflict environments are often affiliated with state or non-state armed groups.

These may include national military or police forces, terrorist and violent extremist groups, local militias and insurgents.

Human trafficking is not necessarily the work of armed groups alone. Wars displace large numbers of people in search of safety and security. Refugees fleeing war and persecution can be an easy target for traffickers – individuals and criminal organizations – in war-torn countries but also abroad.

Who are the victims ?

Conflict-related sexual violence frequently targets civilian populations and disproportionately affects women and girls.

In a new report, the UN has verified more than 3,600 cases of sexual violence committed in conflict situations in 2023 around the world. 95 percent of cases involved women and girls. Children were targeted in 32 percent of incidents.

According to the UNODC Global Trafficking in Persons Report, most trafficking victims detected from countries affected by ongoing conflicts are African nationals, and they are mainly detected in Africa and the Middle East.

Sexual violence has serious, sometimes lifelong consequences, including health problems, unwanted pregnancies, isolation and exclusion from families and communities.

This situation continues to be underestimated due to stigma, gender-based inequalities and social norms that silence the voices of survivors.

What does UNODC do?

UNODC has extensive experience in providing survivor-centered and gender-sensitive responses to sexual violence through its work to prevent and combat human trafficking.

It works to improve survivors' access to justice and provides tools, training and capacity building for criminal justice officials. It also supports reforms to the criminal justice system to ensure victims' rights are respected, hold perpetrators accountable and combat impunity.

UNODC seeks to build partnerships between governments, civil society and the private sector to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and the needs of survivors are met.

UNODC also collects relevant data to improve understanding of the challenges of conflict-related sexual violence and enable more effective policy responses.