Rape as a Weapon of War and it's Long-term Effects on Victims and Society

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Author: 
Cassandra Clifford, Stop Modern Slavery and The Foreign Policy Association, NY

The following paper studies the use of rape as a tool of war, including the short and long-term effects it has on the
individual, as well as the societal and political future of a country.The paper will looks at the following key questions:

  • Does rape as a tool of war leave a country with less chance of a solid and stable political future?
  • What are the long-term effects on the society as a whole?
  • What are the ongoing effects of stigmatizing, victims including the effects on: marriages, children, families
    and communities? This entails inequality and gender discrimination women face in times of war, including
    social exclusion, and how this symbolic form of violence affects that marginalization in the future and in
    times of peace.
  • What promotes an individual to use rape as a tool of war, and what are key motivating factors?
  • What function does rape have in modern warfare, and how does it compare in a historical perspective?

The paper concludes with recommendations for more in depth analysis and studies on primary and secondary
victims, as well as the rapist. These recommendations lead into how to work towards a sustainable end to the use of
rape as a weapon of war.

Document PDF: 

Cassandra Clifford, Rape as a Weapon of War, 2008