When our bodies become battlegrounds
Today’s wars don't just rage on battlegrounds; they invade homes, shatter families and communities, and steal futures. They don't just infringe upon rights; they systematically rip away the very essence of human dignity, leaving behind a profound and lasting scar on the lives of many people.
Even wars have rules, but oftentimes, they are not respected. War crimes and crimes against humanity that target civilians remain widespread. One of the most egregious and devastating war crimes is the use of sexual violence, such as rape, sexual slavery and forced prostitution, as a tactic of war.
Sexual violence in conflict is often employed to instill fear, humiliate, dominate and break down the social fabric of communities. While women and girls bear the overwhelming brunt of this violence, its harmful impact extends to many others. The effects of conflict-related sexual violence echo across generations, manifested through physical and psychological trauma, stigma and poverty.
Over the last decade, the United Nations has verified cases affecting more than 51,000 victims and survivors of sexual violence in conflict. In 2023 alone, the organization verified more than 3,600 reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence—a staggering 50 percent surge from the previous year. The conflicts in Ethiopia (835) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (733) saw the worst of these atrocities. Women and girls accounted for 95 per cent of the verified cases. In 32 per cent of the cases, the victims were children.
More recently, the UN has reported a dramatic rise in documented cases of sexual violence in conflict-affected areas, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Myanmar and Sudan. In April 2025, UN Women reported a 288 percent increase in demand for lifesaving support following incidents of rape and sexual violence in Sudan.
Unfortunately, the cases represent only the tip of the iceberg, a tragic undercount, as countless cases remain unreported or unverified. And in too many cases, crimes continue with impunity.
We look at the impact of this heinous crime and why it is important to break the cycle of violence, stand with the survivors and safeguard future generations from the same horrific fate.
Too often, perpetrators walk free, cloaked in impunity, while survivors often bear the impossible burden of stigma and trauma. The pain does not end with them."
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General (19 June 2025)
Shattered lives
“This man did so many terrible things with me. He used to tie my hands, feet, and mouth so that I could not defend myself against him. It was so horrible that I did not want to live anymore, I tried to commit suicide four times,” says Ekhlas Bajoo, a survivor of sexual violence from the Yazidi community in Iraq’s Sinjar District who was kidnapped and raped by ISIS fighters when she was 14 years old.
The UN Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and its partners have, over the years, documented numerous harrowing accounts from survivors who have courageously recounted their painful experiences of violence.
For survivors like Bajoo, the act of violence is just the beginning of a lifelong struggle. Their difficult journey to healing and justice often only commences long after their physical wounds start to mend, particularly during times of war.
“I had many nightmares after my detention. I lost trust in people, even in my family and close friends. I became isolated, insomniac, lost my appetite and my self-confidence. I was depressed and I felt profound shame because of the sexual violence I was subjected to,” says another survivor who was a 17-year-old student in Syria when he was raped and tortured.
The stories of brutality, from abductions to torture to gang rapes, make one thing clear - the consequences often lead to deep-seated trauma that haunt survivors and their families for generations, manifesting cycles of emotional distress, social stigma and psychological scars.
“We know that for every survivor who comes forward, many others are silenced by social pressures, stigma, insecurity, the paucity of services and the limited prospects for justice,” says Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict.
14 June 2023: The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, visits the Bulengo camp for internally displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Credit: UN
The stigmatization can be particularly severe, causing survivors and their families to be cut off from essential social safety nets and community networks crucial for recovery. When pregnancy results from sexual violence, rejection can span generations of children, perpetuating a cycle of marginalization.
But there are survivors who persevere against all odds.
“It’s taken me a long time to heal,” says Devi Khadka, a Nepali politician and activist, who was gang-raped by government forces at 17. Leading two survivor organizations, she actively works to document sexual violence cases, secure crucial medical and financial support for survivors and relentlessly push for justice.
“There are hundreds of women like me. I want Nepal’s leaders to recognize wartime rape. I want all of us to live with dignity.”
Replacing the horror with healing and hope
"In peace negotiations, no one mentioned rape or what happened during the war," recounts Rose (pseudonym) who was brutalized by three men and left for dead during Burundi’s civil war in 1993.
Her experience underscores a painful truth: for too long, the silent suffering of survivors has been ignored.
"I did not have a platform to tell my story. I never received any reparations. I believe people, state army and politicians need to be educated on not using women as weapons of war. In peace negotiations, they need to document what happened during [the] war for accountability and [a] better future."
Rose’s words are a stark demand for systemic change. Despite such unimaginable trauma, the UN's Special Representative Pramila Patten has witnessed firsthand the profound resilience and courage of survivors during her visits to conflict-affected regions.
"What stands out to me, above all, is the thirst for justice and the hunger for peace," Patten explains, reflecting on people's journeys from victims to powerful survivors. "Through acceptance and support, many survivors have been able to turn the page and write a new chapter of their lives."
Path towards action
The journey for justice has been undeniably challenging, but a pivotal shift occurred in 2008. The UN Security Council formally declared sexual violence not merely a humanitarian concern, but a deliberate tactic of war and a direct threat to international peace and security. This landmark resolution unequivocally affirmed that such violence can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.
Building on this groundbreaking recognition, the UN established a top-level political position the following year: the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. This dedicated mandate ensured specialized advocacy, robust monitoring, and enhanced coordination of UN efforts, elevating the issue to a central priority within the organization.
A decade later, in 2019, the UN further solidified its commitment by pushing for the universal adoption of a comprehensive and survivor-centered approach. This crucial evolution fundamentally refocused all prevention and response measures, placing the rights, needs, safety, dignity and well-being of survivors at their absolute heart, and emphasizing the critical need to address the root causes of conflict-related sexual violence, including deep-seated structural gender inequality.
According to Special Representative Patten’s office, without sustained intervention, the cycle of trauma unleashed perpetuates social fragmentation and lasting psychological harm. True healing demands comprehensive support: survivors and their families require trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial care to process their experiences and build resilience. Beyond individual support, community-based interventions, child-friendly programs for child survivors and education are critical.
Strong political will and pivotal legislative and policy changes are crucial in preventing conflict-related sexual violence and fostering lasting recovery. By actively addressing intergenerational trauma, it is possible to pave the way for a future where survivors and their children can reclaim their lives, transforming horror into healing and hope.
“I hope that one day, we will be free and live in a world without rape and injustice. I’m calling all survivors to break the silence and speak out for the sake of our justice and a better future for our kids,” says Rose.
Learn more about the UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict which unites the UN System to improve coordination and accountability, amplify programming and advocacy, support national efforts to prevent sexual violence and respond effectively to the needs of survivors.
Find out more about the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict which was created to assist national authorities strengthen rule of law to ensure accountability for perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence.