Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as Warfare

Cherepanov, Elena

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_106-1

Elena Cherepanov⁷

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2 Citations

Abstract

The use of rape as a strategic weapon of war dates back to ancient times. In the modern world, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) continues to be used for political gains as a tool of genocide and torture to intimidate, demoralize rivals, and break resistance. The survivors of violence and children born from rape often face health problems, PTSD, stigmatization, and social isolation. This chapter provides background information on the prevalence of SGBV, its contributing factors, and its consequences, specifically focusing on women, men, child soldiers, and refugees. It reviews the efforts that the international community undertakes to put an end to this heinous crime against humanity. This includes developing policy and international law, pursuing accountability for the perpetrators, and establishing supports for the survivors. Understanding the lifelong health, psychological, and social impacts of war rape allows for the development of mental health and psychosocial supports (MHPSS) and promising practices aimed at facilitating psychological recovery and community reintegration of the survivors. The chapter calls to scale up the trauma-informed care for refugees who are resettled in the USA. This chapter describes emerging controversies and identifies prioritized directions in supporting survivors of SGBV.

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Abbreviations

DRC:: Democratic Republic of the Congo
IASC:: Inter-Agency Standing Committee
INGO:: International nongovernmental organization
MHPSS:: Mental health and psychosocial supports
PTSD:: Post-traumatic stress disorder
SGBV:: Sexual and gender-based violence
STI:: Sexually transmitted infection

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Cambridge College, Boston, MA, USA
Elena Cherepanov

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Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA
Robert Geffner
School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensbo, Greensboro, NC, USA
Jacquelyn W. White
Dept of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
L. Kevin Hamberger
Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
Alan Rosenbaum
Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA
Viola Vaughan-Eden
Education and Research, Zero Abuse Project, St. Paul, MN, USA
Victor I. Vieth

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School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
Michael B. Greene
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
Robert L. Johnson

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Cherepanov, E. (2019). Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as Warfare. In: Geffner, R., White, J.W., Hamberger, L.K., Rosenbaum, A., Vaughan-Eden, V., Vieth, V.I. (eds) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_106-1

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_106-1
Received: 28 June 2019
Accepted: 10 July 2019
Published: 14 August 2019
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62122-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62122-7
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