<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A 72-year-old man from France, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted of drugging his wife, Gisele Pelicot, and allowing men to rape her repeatedly over a decade.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Pelicot received the maximum sentence of 20 years on December 19, 2024, in a case that sparked global outrage over sexual violence.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">50</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> other men </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">were also convicted</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> in the case. Speaking in court, Gisele said, &ldquo;The profile of a rapist is not someone met in a car park late at night. A rapist can also be in the family, among our friends.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">While the details of the case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Kolkata doctor rape case</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In the east Indian state of West Bengal, mass protests erupted after a young doctor </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">was found murdered</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> in the lecture hall at Kolkata&rsquo;s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-big-conspiracy-report-finds-no-evidence-of-struggle-resistance-at-kolkata-rg-kar-rape-scene-786381">&lsquo;A big conspiracy?&rsquo; Report finds no evidence of &lsquo;struggle, resistance&rsquo; at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">She had allegedly been sexually assaulted and tortured before being murdered.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested after the incident, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later took over the case.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The case brought to the surface the anger over women&rsquo;s safety in India, echoing the widespread protests following the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, which became famous as the 'Nirbhaya (fearless) case'.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Although harsher laws </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">were introduced</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> in India after the 2012 incident, there has been little evidence that these laws have reduced sexual violence.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Government data shows that in 2022, over 31,000 cases of rape were reported in India, equating to 85 rapes per day. </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Conviction rates for rape cases have remained low in the country, ranging between 27 per cent and 28 per cent from 2018 to 2022.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Crime against women in Afghanistan</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban have </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">been accused</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> of using sexual violence as a tool of oppression.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-banned-from-midwife-and-nurse-education-in-new-talibans-decree-report-781269">Afghan women 'banned from midwife and nurse education' in Taliban's new decree: Report</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">As per a recent report, a human rights activist who fled the country after being raped and tortured in prison </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">was sent</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> a video of her assault as an intimidation tactic.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The video later made headlines and highlighted the crime against women taking place in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Rape&nbsp;</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">being used</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> as a weapon of war in conflict zones</span></strong></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Violence against women has also&nbsp;</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">been reported</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> in conflict zones. In Sudan, a civil war has led to widespread sexual violence.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Human Rights Watch reported that the Rapid Support Forces have raped multiple women and girls, with some used as sex slaves. A recent investigation documented the cases of 79 survivors aged 7 to 50.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-for-the-first-time-uses-genocide-for-israels-actions-in-gaza-calls-for-investigation-776996">Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The United Nations reported nearly 3,700 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2023, with 95% of the victims being women and girls. Of these cases, 32% involved children, mostly girls, and 21 incidents targeted LGBTQI individuals.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">"In the Sudan and Haiti, women and girls are being brutalized and terrorized by sexual violence committed at gunpoint. In Afghanistan, the systematic assault </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">on,</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> and erasure </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">of,</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> women and their rights is destroying lives and livelihoods. Two years since Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of displaced and refugee women and girls face a heightened risk of being preyed upon by traffickers,&rdquo; said Pramila Patten, the UN&rsquo;s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">while</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> presenting the report on 23 April 2024.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In the Middle East, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the ongoing bloodshed, displacement, trauma, and terror, she added.</span></p>
<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/multiple-onlyfans-accounts-with-suspected-child-sexual-abuse-material-report-786457">Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-gay-couple-gets-100-years-in-jail-for-raping-adopted-sons-and-filming-child-pornography-786444"></a></span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">According to the UN, women and children were among the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. In 2024, they are more than half of the victims of Israel's invasion of Gaza.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink, with survivors of gender-based violence, pregnant women, and others in desperate need with nowhere to turn, Patten pointed out.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">These reports of sexual violence against women in 2024 show a harsh global reality. Sadly, they are just the visible surface of a far deeper crisis, with many more cases hidden by fear and societal stigma. These incidents show the urgent need to address the root causes and ensure accountability.</span></p>
<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">(With inputs from agencies)</span></em></p>

While the details of Gisele Pelicot's case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024.

A 72-year-old man from France, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted of drugging his wife, Gisele Pelicot, and allowing men to rape her repeatedly over a decade. Pelicot received the maximum sentence of 20 years on December 19, 2024, in a case that sparked global outrage over sexual violence. 50 other men were also convicted in the case. Speaking in court, Gisele said, “The profile of a rapist is not someone met in a car park late at night. A rapist can also be in the family, among our friends.” While the details of the case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024. Kolkata doctor rape case In the east Indian state of West Bengal, mass protests erupted after a young doctor was found murdered in the lecture hall at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Also read: ‘A big conspiracy?’ Report finds no evidence of ‘struggle, resistance’ at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene She had allegedly been sexually assaulted and tortured before being murdered. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested after the incident, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later took over the case. The case brought to the surface the anger over women’s safety in India, echoing the widespread protests following the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, which became famous as the 'Nirbhaya (fearless) case'. Although harsher laws were introduced in India after the 2012 incident, there has been little evidence that these laws have reduced sexual violence. Government data shows that in 2022, over 31,000 cases of rape were reported in India, equating to 85 rapes per day. Conviction rates for rape cases have remained low in the country, ranging between 27 per cent and 28 per cent from 2018 to 2022. Crime against women in Afghanistan In Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban have been accused of using sexual violence as a tool of oppression. Also read: Afghan women 'banned from midwife and nurse education' in Taliban's new decree: Report As per a recent report, a human rights activist who fled the country after being raped and tortured in prison was sent a video of her assault as an intimidation tactic. The video later made headlines and highlighted the crime against women taking place in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Rape being used as a weapon of war in conflict zones Violence against women has also been reported in conflict zones. In Sudan, a civil war has led to widespread sexual violence. Human Rights Watch reported that the Rapid Support Forces have raped multiple women and girls, with some used as sex slaves. A recent investigation documented the cases of 79 survivors aged 7 to 50. Also read: Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation The United Nations reported nearly 3,700 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2023, with 95% of the victims being women and girls. Of these cases, 32% involved children, mostly girls, and 21 incidents targeted LGBTQI individuals. "In the Sudan and Haiti, women and girls are being brutalized and terrorized by sexual violence committed at gunpoint. In Afghanistan, the systematic assault on, and erasure of, women and their rights is destroying lives and livelihoods. Two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of displaced and refugee women and girls face a heightened risk of being preyed upon by traffickers,” said Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict while presenting the report on 23 April 2024. In the Middle East, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the ongoing bloodshed, displacement, trauma, and terror, she added. Also read: Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report According to the UN, women and children were among the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. In 2024, they are more than half of the victims of Israel's invasion of Gaza. The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink, with survivors of gender-based violence, pregnant women, and others in desperate need with nowhere to turn, Patten pointed out. These reports of sexual violence against women in 2024 show a harsh global reality. Sadly, they are just the visible surface of a far deeper crisis, with many more cases hidden by fear and societal stigma. These incidents show the urgent need to address the root causes and ensure accountability. (With inputs from agencies)

Sexual violence against women in 2024: From Kolkata to Gisele Pelicot rape cases, a year of horrors

<p>With the collapse of Islamic State&rsquo;s (IS) &ldquo;caliphate&rdquo; in Iraq and Syria, it is time to think about the next steps for those who have suffered under them. In particular, the children who have been born as a result of sexual violence perpetrated by IS fighters.</p>

<p>The precise number of children born within IS as a result of this violence is difficult to establish. But in March 2016 it was estimated that there were 31,000 pregnant women living within the caliphate. While the circumstances surrounding these pregnancies is unclear, a recent report on the use of sexual slavery within IS highlighted an economic dimension. This includes the payment of an additional US$35 for each child born to a woman held as a sex slave.</p>

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<h5>Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence.</h5>
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<p>These children suffer unique challenges. They have issued birth certificates, but as Islamic State is a non-state actor, they are effectively stateless. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence.</p>

<p>These factors pose significant challenges for children who escape IS. These children lack a recognised nationality, bringing problems such as discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare. They are also often viewed as a threat to security. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as &ldquo;guilty by association&rdquo;. When entering a refugee camp north of Raqqa in May 2017, some of these children and their mothers were labelled &ldquo;the Daeshis&rdquo;, meaning Islamic State families, and shunned by others in the camp.</p>

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<p>Further, children born of sexual violence in conflict, which includes children of IS, exist in what the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict has previously termed an &ldquo;accountability gap&rdquo;. While children born of sexual violence have been recognised as victims eligible for reparations as a result of truth commissions or national legislation in places such as Timor Leste, Chile, Peru and Sierra Leone, there are often strict criteria such as the mother being single. Further, these children have been neglected within the criminal justice processes developed in response to mass atrocities.</p>

<p>So, how should the international community respond? My tentative answer contains two elements. Firstly, the international community has a role to play in helping these children rebuild their lives. Secondly, consideration should be given to how the International Criminal Court (ICC), which integrates retributive and reparative justice mechanisms, can hold IS members responsible for sexual violence and recognise children born of this violence as victims entitled to reparations.</p>

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<p><strong>Rebuilding lives</strong></p>

<p>Firstly, these children will require legitimate documentation. Governments should, therefore, respond to calls by the United Nations to grant citizenship to children born under IS. Some cases may be complex. There may be cases where the child is born of one or two foreign parents; where the mother&rsquo;s home country enforces discriminatory laws denying women the right to transmit their nationality to their children; or where the child is orphaned. The international community must establish cooperation and coordination mechanisms to deal with such cases and ensure the best interests of the child are respected.</p>

<p>Support networks should also be established to coordinate integration into communities and entry into the education systems of national states.</p>

<p>Combating stigma of children born of war is key. Governments should adopt national stigma strategies with specific programmes to support mothers and children born from sexual violence, as recommended in the UK&rsquo;s new principles on this subject.</p>

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<p><strong>Criminal prosecution</strong></p>

<p>Then, in order to close the accountability gap, it is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. While it has been reported that some IS members have been tried in domestic courts, the ICC has yet to play a role.</p>

<p>The UN has recently called for the ICC to exercise its jurisdiction with respect to crimes committed by IS in Iraq. But of course, prosecuting IS for international crimes raises a host of challenges, including jurisdictional issues and lack of precedence.</p>

<p>Should members ever face prosecution at the ICC, children born of sexual violence may be captured within the definition of forced pregnancy, an international crime for which individuals can be held criminally responsible under the Rome Statute. But the main element of this crime is confinement of the mother, rather than the recognition of sexual violence that has resulted in the pregnancy and birth of a child.</p>

<p>Indeed, there is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. This gap in the legal framework has been identified by international criminal legal experts Patricia Seller and Maxine Marcus as something for future jurisprudence at international criminal tribunals.</p>

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<p><strong>Developments at the ICC</strong></p>

<p>Despite the lack of formal recognition of children born of sexual violence in current legal frameworks, such children have featured in cases at the ICC.</p>

<p>For instance, in the ongoing case against Dominic Ongwen, who was charged with forced pregnancy, amongst other crimes in March 2016, ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, drew attention to &ldquo;a whole category of other victims: the children born in captivity resulting from these forced marriages, who sometimes face hostility and taunts as a result of their parentage&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Bensouda&rsquo;s statement suggests that attention will be paid to children born of sexual violence within this case, perhaps at the reparations stage, where the harms suffered by these children could be addressed.</p>

<p>There are of course limits to international criminal prosecutions. But it is encouraging to see that, should IS fighters ever face trial, jurisprudence is being developed which may allow children born under their reign to be recognised within the process.</p>

<p>Children born under IS raise a host legal and social issues that require a sensitive and coordinated response from the international community. Rather than being punished for the life they have been born into, the cloak of stigma and suspicion surrounding these children should be removed &ndash; and they should be supported in moving forward with their lives.</p>

<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/children-born-of-sexual-violence-under-islamic-state-need-support-87147" rel="nofollow">original article</a>.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).</em></p>

<p>Image Credit: EPA</p>


It is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims.

With the collapse of Islamic State’s (IS) “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, it is time to think about the next steps for those who have suffered under them. In particular, the children who have been born as a result of sexual violence perpetrated by IS fighters. The precise number of children born within IS as a result of this violence is difficult to establish. But in March 2016 it was estimated that there were 31,000 pregnant women living within the caliphate. While the circumstances surrounding these pregnancies is unclear, a recent report on the use of sexual slavery within IS highlighted an economic dimension. This includes the payment of an additional US$35 for each child born to a woman held as a sex slave. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence. × These children suffer unique challenges. They have issued birth certificates, but as Islamic State is a non-state actor, they are effectively stateless. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence. These factors pose significant challenges for children who escape IS. These children lack a recognised nationality, bringing problems such as discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare. They are also often viewed as a threat to security. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as “guilty by association”. When entering a refugee camp north of Raqqa in May 2017, some of these children and their mothers were labelled “the Daeshis”, meaning Islamic State families, and shunned by others in the camp. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as “guilty by association”. × Further, children born of sexual violence in conflict, which includes children of IS, exist in what the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict has previously termed an “accountability gap”. While children born of sexual violence have been recognised as victims eligible for reparations as a result of truth commissions or national legislation in places such as Timor Leste, Chile, Peru and Sierra Leone, there are often strict criteria such as the mother being single. Further, these children have been neglected within the criminal justice processes developed in response to mass atrocities. So, how should the international community respond? My tentative answer contains two elements. Firstly, the international community has a role to play in helping these children rebuild their lives. Secondly, consideration should be given to how the International Criminal Court (ICC), which integrates retributive and reparative justice mechanisms, can hold IS members responsible for sexual violence and recognise children born of this violence as victims entitled to reparations. An unidentified child of a militant of Islamic State (IS) plays with an AK-47. (Others) × Rebuilding lives Firstly, these children will require legitimate documentation. Governments should, therefore, respond to calls by the United Nations to grant citizenship to children born under IS. Some cases may be complex. There may be cases where the child is born of one or two foreign parents; where the mother’s home country enforces discriminatory laws denying women the right to transmit their nationality to their children; or where the child is orphaned. The international community must establish cooperation and coordination mechanisms to deal with such cases and ensure the best interests of the child are respected. Support networks should also be established to coordinate integration into communities and entry into the education systems of national states. Combating stigma of children born of war is key. Governments should adopt national stigma strategies with specific programmes to support mothers and children born from sexual violence, as recommended in the UK’s new principles on this subject. It is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. × Criminal prosecution Then, in order to close the accountability gap, it is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. While it has been reported that some IS members have been tried in domestic courts, the ICC has yet to play a role. The UN has recently called for the ICC to exercise its jurisdiction with respect to crimes committed by IS in Iraq. But of course, prosecuting IS for international crimes raises a host of challenges, including jurisdictional issues and lack of precedence. Should members ever face prosecution at the ICC, children born of sexual violence may be captured within the definition of forced pregnancy, an international crime for which individuals can be held criminally responsible under the Rome Statute. But the main element of this crime is confinement of the mother, rather than the recognition of sexual violence that has resulted in the pregnancy and birth of a child. Indeed, there is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. This gap in the legal framework has been identified by international criminal legal experts Patricia Seller and Maxine Marcus as something for future jurisprudence at international criminal tribunals. There is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. × Developments at the ICC Despite the lack of formal recognition of children born of sexual violence in current legal frameworks, such children have featured in cases at the ICC. For instance, in the ongoing case against Dominic Ongwen, who was charged with forced pregnancy, amongst other crimes in March 2016, ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, drew attention to “a whole category of other victims: the children born in captivity resulting from these forced marriages, who sometimes face hostility and taunts as a result of their parentage”. Bensouda’s statement suggests that attention will be paid to children born of sexual violence within this case, perhaps at the reparations stage, where the harms suffered by these children could be addressed. There are of course limits to international criminal prosecutions. But it is encouraging to see that, should IS fighters ever face trial, jurisprudence is being developed which may allow children born under their reign to be recognised within the process. Children born under IS raise a host legal and social issues that require a sensitive and coordinated response from the international community. Rather than being punished for the life they have been born into, the cloak of stigma and suspicion surrounding these children should be removed – and they should be supported in moving forward with their lives. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity). Image Credit: EPA

Opinion: Children born of sexual violence under Islamic State

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Sexual violence against women in 2024: From Kolkata to Gisele Pelicot rape cases, a year of horrors

Opinion: Children born of sexual violence under Islamic State