The bodies and spirits of women and girls are the forgotten frontline in conflicts throughout the world. Sexual violence is not just a by-product of war; it is a strategy of combat systematically used to terrorize and humiliate.
The consequences of violence against women are debilitating and many: risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, damage to reproductive organs, and broken bones. The psychological and social consequences are equally as devastating, as the prevailing stigma associated with sexual violence often leaves women isolated and increasingly vulnerable. The trauma a survivor experiences goes beyond her own suffering, also rendering great costs to her family and community.
The threat of assault follows women and girls as they flee conflict. And it lingers long after fighting ends. In war-torn regions where destruction, displacement and lawlessness breed yet more violence, women increasingly face abuse in their homes and may be forced to exchange sex for survival.
Around the world, the International Rescue Committee helps survivors heal and works with communities and institutions to break the cycle of violence. As first-responders in emergencies such as in Central African Republic, the IRC works hands-on to deliver urgent care and referrals for victims of assault. In longstanding crises, such as Darfur, we provide safe spaces for women to come together for support and to build skills at our women’s centers. And in the aftermath of war, such as in West Africa, the IRC addresses the root causes of violence against women by helping them gain greater economic independence and play a more meaningful role in decision-making.
Through grassroots campaigns that channel women’s voices about their experiences, we reach out to men and boys to change attitudes that foster violence against women. We also advocate with government officials to advance laws preventing violence against women, and enforce policies ensuring survivors’ access to care and legal justice.
The recovery of communities devastated by war relies heavily on the participation of women and girls. The IRC works to foster conditions in which women and girls not only survive the effects of conflict, but ultimately thrive.
Learn More
Fact Sheet: Global Gender-based Violence Programming - IRC GBV Technical Unit Fact Sheet [PDF]
Special Report and Blog: With help from the IRC and writer/photographer/women's advocate Ann Jones, women in West Africa's conflict zones are documenting their own lives with digital cameras and making their voices heard.
Interview: Sarah Mosely on IRC programs for rape survivors in Congo. Also, read our GBV technical unit's fact sheet [PDF] about breaking the cycle of violence against women and girls in Congo.
