Focus

Gender and Insecurity

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Since the 1990s, feminist studies have demonstrated the under-representation and exclusion of women in negotiations and the lack of visibility of their role in conflicts. However, women are affected by specific forms of sexual violence, including the risk of pregnancy resulting from rape. The expression “systematic rape as a weapon of war” appeared in 1992, describing the strategic use of sexual violence as an act of war aiming to destroy the enemy. This practice is not recent, and it is difficult to assess the numbers of victims. In 1993, the Statute of the International included rape among the crimes against humanity; this was also recognized in the Rome of the International Criminal Court in 1998. In 2000, the Security Council adopted the first resolution aiming to reinforce women’s participation in peace processes and to condemn . However, in 2016, the UN once again condemned the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war and terrorism.

Violence against women, 2013-2014

Sources: WHO, www.who.int ; United Nations , Progress of the World’s Women 2015-2016: Transforming Economies, Realizing Rights, 2016, www.unwomen.org

Comment: The WHO and UN data for 2013 show major inequalities regarding women’s rights in the world: A quarter of countries have failed to pass a law guaranteeing equality between women and men and a third have no law on the legal marrying age. The geography of violence committed by close partners is primarily focused on Southern countries and on Russia, while violence perpetrated by persons other than a partner includes North America and Europe.

To quote this article

" Gender and Insecurity " World Atlas of Global Issues, 2018, [online], accessed on Mar 15 2021, URL:
https://espace-mondial-atlas.sciencespo.fr/en/topic-contrasts-and-inequalities/focus-1F06-EN-gender-and-insecurity.html

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