Prot

The impact on the victims cannot be overemphasized, either in the case of rape, trafficking in human beings, sexual slavery, prostitution or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity, directly or indirectly related to conflict. These horrors, generally committed against women and children, engender all sorts of pathologies and disorders, compounding the other impacts of the wounds and scars previously caused by serious situations of vulnerability, such as migration, forced displacement, war or simply long-standing precarious living conditions. In particular, children exposed to such cruel treatment may develop destructive behavioural patterns in the future because, as psychologists and traumatologists point out, children in danger are dangerous children. Lives torn apart and spirits broken — that is the fate that awaits them. Because of the devastating and destructive nature of such violations in times of war, firm responses are needed from the international community.

First, the international community must be firm in implementing international norms to protect women. To that end, priority must be given to taking concrete steps in the field and ensuring that they are focused on prevention, detection and early warning. An increased number of advisers specialized in the areas of women’s rights protection and gender-related issues must be deployed in the field, with the consent host countries.