Women in Armed Conflict

July 29, 2023

GS Paper II Social Justice

Context:

The recent horrifying sexual violence against Kuki-Zomi women by majority Meiteis, in Manipur’s ethnic clashes between the two communities, has yet again woken the country up to the vulnerability of women’s bodies during a conflict.

History of Violence Against Women in Armed Conflict in India

Women have historically endured numerous unintended consequences and violence as victims during communal riots, conflicts, and wars.
- These incidents are a reflection of the deeply ingrained patriarchal norms present in various societies, which often result in women being disproportionately affected.

Past Instances of violence towards women:

Partition of India (1947): Women from both sides became victims of sexual violence, abduction, and forced conversion.
- Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of women were raped, sexually assaulted, or brutally killed during this partition.
Bangladesh Liberation War (1971): During the conflict, numerous women were subjected to systematic sexual violence, including rape, abduction, and forced prostitution.
- It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of women were victimised, and brutality was perpetrated by soldiers from the Pakistani military.
Rohingya Crisis (2017-present): The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar resulted in a mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims to neighbouring countries.
- Women were subjected to horrific sexual violence, including gang rape, as part of the military’s campaign against them.
- These acts of violence have left deep emotional and physical scars on the victims and continue to be a severe human rights concern.

Impact of Conflict on Women

Gender-Based Violence (GBV): War and GBV are undeniably interlinked, with women and children being exposed to physical, verbal, sexual, and psychological abuse in times of conflict.
- Gender-Based Violence is used as a tool in war to assert control, weaken families, carry out ethnic cleansings and genocide, and to discourage resistance and destabilise communities.
- According to a 2019 Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (Acled) report, in both 2018 and 2019, India was amongst the top countries where women are highly vulnerable against conflict related sexual violence.
- In Afghanistan, 62% of women have experienced all three forms of gender-based violence (GBV): psychological, physical, and sexual abuse.
Social Chaos: Conflict enforces the objectification of women and girls, as they are often seen as weapons of war, being used by perpetrators of violence to assert control.
- Rates of domestic violence and human trafficking commonly spike during times of conflict due to rising instability, poverty, and a weakening rule of law.
Displacement: In times of war, women often bear the sole responsibility and risk of getting their families and themselves out of harm’s way.
- According to UNHCR, more than half of the planet’s 80 million displaced people are women and children.
Rise in child marriage: Because war disrupts economies, supply chains, and agricultural production, it often leads to widespread poverty and hunger.
- Consequently, rates of child marriage go up as families become desperate for additional income or one less mouth to feed.
Limited Access to Life-Saving Health Care: As violence and war leads to the destruction of facilities and infrastructure, hospitals and clinics are often demolished and access to health care can become painfully limited.
- In some conflicts, up to 90 % of casualties are among civilians, most of whom are women and children.
Gender discrimination: Armed conflict exacerbates inequalities between women and men, and discrimination against women and girls.
- It can lead to inequitable distribution of food to women and girls, causing malnutrition and other health problems.
Girls’ Education: In conflict and crisis, girls are often the first to be pulled out of school, and the last to return.
- According to the Global Partnership for Education, girls facing conflict are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys, and are less likely to return following a ceasefire.
Lack of Participation: Despite being disproportionately affected by conflict, women are often denied participation in peace talks and conflict prevention or reconstruction.
- In 2020, women represented only 23% of delegations in UN-supported peace processes, according to UN Women.
Differential Impact: Nature of a conflict determines its impact on women.
- The current wars in the Middle East do not have the same effect on women as the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
Economic Exploitation: Post conflict, women often get engaged in labour markets that involve low-paid, low-skilled jobs, self-employment in the informal sector and family labour, which often go unnoticed.
- Women perform 66 % of the world’s work, produce 50 % of the food, but earn 10 % of the income and own 1 % of the property.
Institutionalized Oppression: In India’s Northeast region, which has witnessed insurgency and armed conflict for decades, women have been affected by human rights violations, loss of family support, economic hardship, and social stigma.
- in October 2013, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah admitted to registering more than 5000 cases of rape since 1989 armed rebellion against Indian rule began.
- Legislations such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which gives immunity to the Indian Army from law for human rights abuses, have proved to be a major hindrance against the elimination of sexual violence in conflict in India.

International Efforts to Prevent Exploitation of Women in Armed Conflict

Geneva Conventions (1949): Article 27 says that “Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault.”
UN Security Council Resolution 1325: This resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): This convention obliges its signatories to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality.
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: This statute recognizes sexual violence as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The ICRC works to ensure that women and girls are protected from sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence during armed conflicts.

Way Forward

Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution at decision-making levels and peacebuilding efforts, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction and development.
Provide protection, assistance and training to refugee women, other displaced women in need of international protection and internally displaced women.
Supporting women’s economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities, especially for those who are widowed, displaced, or heads of households.
Improving women’s access to health care, education, water, sanitation, food, and shelter, taking into account their specific needs and vulnerabilities.
Providing psychosocial support and counseling to women and girls who suffer from trauma, stress, or grief due to armed conflict.
Promoting women’s legal rights and access to justice, especially for those who face discrimination, violence, or exploitation.
Respecting women’s cultural and religious practices, and ensuring their freedom of movement and expression.
Raise awareness about the impact of armed conflict on women and girls.