1. The document discusses the issue of sexual violence against children in conflict. It highlights that children, especially girls, often make up the majority of survivors.
2. It notes the catastrophic physical, psychological, and social impacts on victims, including serious injuries, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy, and social stigma.
3. The document calls on the international community to prioritize prevention and response efforts to sexual violence against children in conflict through funding, legal reforms, empowering communities, and ensuring accountability.
The document discusses children at risk in the 21st century. It describes the author's experience working with difficult and damaged children through an alternative school program in Birmingham from 1990 to 1995. It then discusses some of the risks facing youth today, noting that while crime and health issues like smoking and obesity are concerns, rates of youth crime and smoking have actually decreased in recent years according to data. The author argues for a nuanced view of these issues that considers factors like poverty, family stability, and access to resources and opportunities that can help protect children and support healthy development.
Geoff Green founded NeverAgain.org after being inspired to use technology to prevent the denial and revision of history, particularly the Holocaust. NeverAgain.org uses big data and mobile applications to help protect people facing humanitarian crises and human rights violations around the world. Geoff drew from his experiences in sports, firefighting, and public service to develop the skills needed to lead NeverAgain.org and fulfill its mission.
This document summarizes the oral history of Teri Michon, as told by her son Kevan Michon. It describes Teri's family background, including her parents and grandparents, and notes that she has lived in many states and countries throughout her life. The summary also outlines key events and values from Teri's life, such as her upbringing in Colorado and Hawaii, her marriage, career, and interests in music, the environment, and her children's activities. It provides insights into her perspectives on society and how it has changed over time.
Married Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon and Jordan face overlapping crises of poverty, limited access to education and livelihood opportunities, gender inequality, and family violence. Research from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program finds that early and arranged marriage is common as a coping strategy, but takes a toll on girls' well-being. Married life brings responsibilities that girls are unprepared for, leaving them exhausted and isolated with little support. The economic crisis in Lebanon has exacerbated girls' hardships. Violence from husbands and in-laws is prevalent, while girls have little agency or ability to access support networks. Programming recommendations include preventing early marriage, improving relationships within marriages, expanding support for survivors,
This presentation from GAGE discusses findings related to adolescent experiences of violence in Ethiopia. It is structured around GAGE's definition of "capable adolescents" and focuses on three topics: age-based violence, sexual- and gender-based violence, and FGM/C. Some key findings include: two-thirds of younger adolescents have experienced or witnessed violence at home; violence by teachers is common and can be severe; nearly half of young adolescents have been bullied; and girls face multiple risks of sexual violence in their communities and at school. The presentation discusses differences in these experiences by gender and context. It concludes with implications for policies and programs to better support adolescents and address underlying social norms.
1) Helen Dean experienced immense tragedy, losing her son in 1990 in a motorcycle accident, another son to leukemia in 1996, and her husband to stomach cancer in 2000, nearly dying herself in a car accident four months later. 2) She met and married Geoff Dean in 2002, who himself knew great pain from the death of his daughter Melissa in one of Tasmania's worst traffic accidents in 1994. 3) Melissa died a hero at age 23 while rushing to help at another accident, trying to save a child from a burning vehicle after it had been hit by another car.
The document discusses a study on the social cohesion between adolescent refugees and their host communities in Lebanon. The study found that adolescent refugees experience spatial isolation, gendered cultural differences, economic competition, and security issues that hinder their social connectedness. However, some reported positive interactions through mixed-nationality schools, friendships, and community programs. The study recommends improving gender norms, mixed education, community programs, economic stability, and security to enhance social cohesion.
The document discusses sexual harassment in Arab regions and societies. It notes that while harassment exists in Western societies as well, Arab societies tend to have higher rates due to stronger religious and cultural norms regarding sexuality and gender roles. The document also discusses how victims of harassment are often blamed and mistreated by their own families, deepening their psychological trauma. Experts argue that families should respond to victims with transparency, understanding and support rather than accusations in order to properly address the issue and prevent future harassment.
The document discusses children at risk in the 21st century. It describes the author's experience working with difficult and damaged children through an alternative school program in Birmingham from 1990 to 1995. It then discusses some of the risks facing youth today, noting that while crime and health issues like smoking and obesity are concerns, rates of youth crime and smoking have actually decreased in recent years according to data. The author argues for a nuanced view of these issues that considers factors like poverty, family stability, and access to resources and opportunities that can help protect children and support healthy development.
Geoff Green founded NeverAgain.org after being inspired to use technology to prevent the denial and revision of history, particularly the Holocaust. NeverAgain.org uses big data and mobile applications to help protect people facing humanitarian crises and human rights violations around the world. Geoff drew from his experiences in sports, firefighting, and public service to develop the skills needed to lead NeverAgain.org and fulfill its mission.
This document summarizes the oral history of Teri Michon, as told by her son Kevan Michon. It describes Teri's family background, including her parents and grandparents, and notes that she has lived in many states and countries throughout her life. The summary also outlines key events and values from Teri's life, such as her upbringing in Colorado and Hawaii, her marriage, career, and interests in music, the environment, and her children's activities. It provides insights into her perspectives on society and how it has changed over time.
Married Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon and Jordan face overlapping crises of poverty, limited access to education and livelihood opportunities, gender inequality, and family violence. Research from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program finds that early and arranged marriage is common as a coping strategy, but takes a toll on girls' well-being. Married life brings responsibilities that girls are unprepared for, leaving them exhausted and isolated with little support. The economic crisis in Lebanon has exacerbated girls' hardships. Violence from husbands and in-laws is prevalent, while girls have little agency or ability to access support networks. Programming recommendations include preventing early marriage, improving relationships within marriages, expanding support for survivors,
This presentation from GAGE discusses findings related to adolescent experiences of violence in Ethiopia. It is structured around GAGE's definition of "capable adolescents" and focuses on three topics: age-based violence, sexual- and gender-based violence, and FGM/C. Some key findings include: two-thirds of younger adolescents have experienced or witnessed violence at home; violence by teachers is common and can be severe; nearly half of young adolescents have been bullied; and girls face multiple risks of sexual violence in their communities and at school. The presentation discusses differences in these experiences by gender and context. It concludes with implications for policies and programs to better support adolescents and address underlying social norms.
1) Helen Dean experienced immense tragedy, losing her son in 1990 in a motorcycle accident, another son to leukemia in 1996, and her husband to stomach cancer in 2000, nearly dying herself in a car accident four months later. 2) She met and married Geoff Dean in 2002, who himself knew great pain from the death of his daughter Melissa in one of Tasmania's worst traffic accidents in 1994. 3) Melissa died a hero at age 23 while rushing to help at another accident, trying to save a child from a burning vehicle after it had been hit by another car.
The document discusses a study on the social cohesion between adolescent refugees and their host communities in Lebanon. The study found that adolescent refugees experience spatial isolation, gendered cultural differences, economic competition, and security issues that hinder their social connectedness. However, some reported positive interactions through mixed-nationality schools, friendships, and community programs. The study recommends improving gender norms, mixed education, community programs, economic stability, and security to enhance social cohesion.
The document discusses sexual harassment in Arab regions and societies. It notes that while harassment exists in Western societies as well, Arab societies tend to have higher rates due to stronger religious and cultural norms regarding sexuality and gender roles. The document also discusses how victims of harassment are often blamed and mistreated by their own families, deepening their psychological trauma. Experts argue that families should respond to victims with transparency, understanding and support rather than accusations in order to properly address the issue and prevent future harassment.
Kinderen die gevlucht zijn uit Syrie leven in barre omstandigheden. Save the Children probeert hun situatie te verbeteren met de winterkou op komst. Maar we hebben uw hulp hierbij hard nodig. Helpt u mee?
www.savethechildren.nl/syrie
165 miljoen kinderen zijn wereldwijd chronisch ondervoed. Dit zorgt niet alleen voor kind dat sterft als gevolg van ondervoeding, elke 15 seconden, het heeft ook als gevolg dat kinderen daar de rest van hun leven onder lijden. Het is een groot probleem maar er zijn ook grote kansen om dit probleem aan te pakken
Attacks on education have a widespread and substantial impact on children's access to education in conflict-affected countries. An estimated 50 million primary and secondary school-aged children are out of school in conflict zones, more than half of them girls. There were over 3,600 documented attacks on education in 2012 alone. Case studies on countries like Syria, Central African Republic, and Pakistan show how conflicts can destroy school infrastructure and reverse education gains, with millions of children having their education interrupted for months or years. However, humanitarian funding for education remains extremely low at only 1.4% of total humanitarian aid in 2012, preventing education systems from adequately responding to needs after attacks and restoring schooling.
The document summarizes the key findings of Save the Children's 14th annual State of the World's Mothers report. It finds that over 1 million babies die on their first day of life, making it the most dangerous day. Three million newborn babies die each year from preventable causes like infection, birth complications, and prematurity. While maternal and child deaths have declined overall, progress has been slower for newborns. Proven, low-cost interventions could save over 2 million newborn lives annually but lack of political will and funding is preventing delivery of solutions to all who need them. The report examines which countries are succeeding and failing to save mothers and newborns and identifies investments that can make a difference.
Infectious disease control as part of prevention of cancer in developing coun...Jean Jacques Bernatas
1. Several cancers are caused by infectious agents, particularly viruses like HPV, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
2. Prevention of infection-related cancers involves preventing contact with pathogens, immunization against pathogens, and treating infections to prevent cancer development.
3. Many prevention measures can be implemented in low-resource settings through improved healthcare access, financing, education, and training of healthcare workers.
Tissue culture is the propagation of plants using plant parts, single cells, or cell groups grown in a sterile, controlled environment. Banana is an important crop for India, contributing 37% of total fruit production. It grows best in tropical climates between 13-38°C with humidity of 75-85%. Good soil for banana has drainage, fertility, and moisture with a pH of 6-7.5. Common varieties include Grand Naine, which is becoming most popular for its stress tolerance and fruit quality. Land preparation involves adding organic matter to pits or furrows which are then planted with banana plants.
The document discusses the growing hunger crisis facing children in Syria due to the ongoing conflict. It notes that 4 million Syrians, half of them children, need emergency food assistance according to the UN. Restrictions on movement and inflation have limited many families' ability to access food. Children are suffering from malnutrition and lack of medical care. The conflict has also damaged agriculture and infrastructure, further reducing access to food and clean water. The situation risks becoming a major malnutrition crisis if not addressed. The document shares testimonies from Syrians describing the daily struggles to find food and other necessities to survive amid the violence.
Protoplast fusion involves removing the cell walls of plant cells through enzymatic or mechanical means to create naked protoplasts. These protoplasts can then be fused using chemicals, electricity, or other methods. This allows the cytoplasms and sometimes nuclei of different plant cells to merge, creating hybrid cells. Successful fusion can generate hybrid plants through regeneration of cell walls and tissues. Protoplast fusion overcomes sexual incompatibility and is used to introduce traits like disease resistance between species. It remains a technically challenging process with limitations like genetic instability and uncertain expression of transferred traits.
Protoplasts are plant cells that have had their cell walls removed, allowing for genetic manipulation and fusion. The document details methods for isolating protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. Once isolated, protoplast viability and density can be determined before attempting to culture the protoplasts and induce cell wall regeneration. Applications include somatic hybridization through protoplast fusion to transfer genes between species.
Cybrids are produced through the fusion of protoplasts from two different plant species, combining the cytoplasm of both but the nucleus of only one species. This technique allows for the transfer of cytoplasmic traits like male sterility between incompatible species. Protoplast isolation, fusion, selection, and regeneration of hybrid cells into whole plants are required to produce cybrids. Cybrids can be used to study cytoplasmic genes and transfer desirable agricultural traits, overcoming sexual incompatibility barriers in plant breeding.
A presentation covering the process of protoplast culture including protoplast isolation, protoplast fusion, culture of protoplast, its application, factors affecting protoplast culture and the future of protoplasts.
Application of plant tissue culture/ micro-propagationSushil Nyaupane
Tissue culture is the process of growing cells or tissues in sterile conditions. It allows for rapid cloning of plant materials. Plant tissue culture involves excising plant parts and growing them on nutrient media. This allows for mass multiplication of plant materials irrespective of season. Some key developments include Haberlandt's proposal of plant cell culture in 1902, and Murashige and Skoog's nutrient medium in 1962. Micropropagation is now used for conservation of rare species, producing disease-free plants, mutation breeding, and more. The future of this technique remains promising.
Somatic hybridization is a technique used to produce hybrid plants by fusing protoplasts (plant cells without cell walls) from two different plant species or varieties. There are several key steps:
1. Isolation of protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. Enzymatic methods using cellulase and pectinase enzymes are more common.
2. Fusion of the protoplasts using chemical fusogens like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or physical methods like electrofusion. This results in hybrid cells called heterokaryons.
3. Selection and culture of the hybrid cells using techniques like antibiotic resistance or genetic markers.
4. Regeneration
Somatic hybridization is a technique used to create hybrid plants by fusing isolated plant cells called protoplasts from two different plant species or varieties. This fusion occurs under in vitro conditions and can result in symmetric hybrids that contain chromosomes from both parents, or asymmetric hybrids that lose chromosomes from one parent. Cybrids are a type of hybrid where the nucleus comes from one species but the cytoplasm, including chloroplasts and mitochondria, comes from both parental species. Somatic hybridization and cybrid production allow for novel combinations of genes that can provide agricultural benefits like stress resistance but technical challenges remain in regenerating hybrid plants.
The document discusses protoplast fusion, which involves removing the cell walls of plant cells to create naked protoplasts that can then be fused. It describes how to isolate protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. The fusion of protoplasts from different species or varieties can create hybrid cells called heterokaryons or hybrids. Techniques to induce protoplast fusion include treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG), calcium ions, electricity, or sodium nitrate. Successful somatic hybridization follows a procedure of isolating, fusing, regenerating cell walls, and selecting hybrid plant cells and colonies. Applications of protoplast fusion include combining genomes of sterile plants and
Plant tissue culture involves growing plant cells, tissues, or organs in sterile conditions on a nutrient culture medium. Key aspects of plant tissue culture include selecting and sterilizing explant tissue, transferring it to a solid culture medium containing hormones, and periodically moving the growing tissue to new media for multiplication. The growing plantlets are eventually transferred to pots and grown in a greenhouse. Plant tissue culture allows for conservation of endangered species, production of virus-free plants, hybrid regeneration, and faster plant growth.
This document provides an introduction and history of plant tissue culture. It discusses various types of plant tissue cultures including callus culture, cell suspension culture, protoplast culture, meristem culture, anther culture, somatic embryogenesis, and ovary/ovule culture. The key applications of these culture techniques are the production of virus-free plants, mass production of desirable genotypes, production of haploid plants, and genetic transformation.
basic principles and protocol in plant tissue cultureAlia Najiha
Plant tissue culture involves growing plant cells, tissues, or organs in an artificial nutrient medium under sterile conditions. It allows for the rapid production of exact genetic copies of plants and is used to regenerate whole plants from genetically modified plant cells. The key requirements for successful tissue culture are appropriate explant tissue, a suitable growth medium, aseptic conditions to prevent microbial contamination, growth regulators, and frequent subculturing to provide nutrients and remove waste. The basic steps are selection of explant tissue from a healthy mother plant, sterilization of the tissue, establishment of the explant in a culture medium, multiplication through callus formation and shoot development, and root formation through manipulation of growth regulators. Benefits include providing pathogen-free plants
The presentation covered the basic steps of plant tissue culture, including setting up a tissue culture lab with areas for media preparation, aseptic transfer, culture, analysis, and acclimatization. It discussed media components and preparation, sterilization techniques like filtration, radiation, and chemicals, and sterilizing plant tissues using chemicals like sodium hypochlorite. Proper cleaning of glassware and sterilization of equipment and materials are essential for maintaining aseptic conditions.
The report, by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF, highlights the changing and devastating impact of conflicts on children. It notes that advances have been made in protecting children from war crimes such as unlawful recruitment by armed forces and groups and sexual violence. It also urges the international community to take concrete actions to stop abuses of children in armed conflict.
This document outlines the work of a student team called the Athenas on addressing issues faced by women in society. It discusses problems faced by women such as rape, female infanticide, illiteracy, and economic inactivity. It then provides general solutions for women's empowerment such as improving education, infrastructure, rights, political participation, and combating violence. The team was inspired by the work of Vaibhavi Ulmale from Maharashtra who empowered girls in her village. The team implemented their ideas in a local society and college by forming women's groups and organizing cultural events.
Kinderen die gevlucht zijn uit Syrie leven in barre omstandigheden. Save the Children probeert hun situatie te verbeteren met de winterkou op komst. Maar we hebben uw hulp hierbij hard nodig. Helpt u mee?
www.savethechildren.nl/syrie
165 miljoen kinderen zijn wereldwijd chronisch ondervoed. Dit zorgt niet alleen voor kind dat sterft als gevolg van ondervoeding, elke 15 seconden, het heeft ook als gevolg dat kinderen daar de rest van hun leven onder lijden. Het is een groot probleem maar er zijn ook grote kansen om dit probleem aan te pakken
Attacks on education have a widespread and substantial impact on children's access to education in conflict-affected countries. An estimated 50 million primary and secondary school-aged children are out of school in conflict zones, more than half of them girls. There were over 3,600 documented attacks on education in 2012 alone. Case studies on countries like Syria, Central African Republic, and Pakistan show how conflicts can destroy school infrastructure and reverse education gains, with millions of children having their education interrupted for months or years. However, humanitarian funding for education remains extremely low at only 1.4% of total humanitarian aid in 2012, preventing education systems from adequately responding to needs after attacks and restoring schooling.
The document summarizes the key findings of Save the Children's 14th annual State of the World's Mothers report. It finds that over 1 million babies die on their first day of life, making it the most dangerous day. Three million newborn babies die each year from preventable causes like infection, birth complications, and prematurity. While maternal and child deaths have declined overall, progress has been slower for newborns. Proven, low-cost interventions could save over 2 million newborn lives annually but lack of political will and funding is preventing delivery of solutions to all who need them. The report examines which countries are succeeding and failing to save mothers and newborns and identifies investments that can make a difference.
Infectious disease control as part of prevention of cancer in developing coun...Jean Jacques Bernatas
1. Several cancers are caused by infectious agents, particularly viruses like HPV, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
2. Prevention of infection-related cancers involves preventing contact with pathogens, immunization against pathogens, and treating infections to prevent cancer development.
3. Many prevention measures can be implemented in low-resource settings through improved healthcare access, financing, education, and training of healthcare workers.
Tissue culture is the propagation of plants using plant parts, single cells, or cell groups grown in a sterile, controlled environment. Banana is an important crop for India, contributing 37% of total fruit production. It grows best in tropical climates between 13-38°C with humidity of 75-85%. Good soil for banana has drainage, fertility, and moisture with a pH of 6-7.5. Common varieties include Grand Naine, which is becoming most popular for its stress tolerance and fruit quality. Land preparation involves adding organic matter to pits or furrows which are then planted with banana plants.
The document discusses the growing hunger crisis facing children in Syria due to the ongoing conflict. It notes that 4 million Syrians, half of them children, need emergency food assistance according to the UN. Restrictions on movement and inflation have limited many families' ability to access food. Children are suffering from malnutrition and lack of medical care. The conflict has also damaged agriculture and infrastructure, further reducing access to food and clean water. The situation risks becoming a major malnutrition crisis if not addressed. The document shares testimonies from Syrians describing the daily struggles to find food and other necessities to survive amid the violence.
Protoplast fusion involves removing the cell walls of plant cells through enzymatic or mechanical means to create naked protoplasts. These protoplasts can then be fused using chemicals, electricity, or other methods. This allows the cytoplasms and sometimes nuclei of different plant cells to merge, creating hybrid cells. Successful fusion can generate hybrid plants through regeneration of cell walls and tissues. Protoplast fusion overcomes sexual incompatibility and is used to introduce traits like disease resistance between species. It remains a technically challenging process with limitations like genetic instability and uncertain expression of transferred traits.
Protoplasts are plant cells that have had their cell walls removed, allowing for genetic manipulation and fusion. The document details methods for isolating protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. Once isolated, protoplast viability and density can be determined before attempting to culture the protoplasts and induce cell wall regeneration. Applications include somatic hybridization through protoplast fusion to transfer genes between species.
Cybrids are produced through the fusion of protoplasts from two different plant species, combining the cytoplasm of both but the nucleus of only one species. This technique allows for the transfer of cytoplasmic traits like male sterility between incompatible species. Protoplast isolation, fusion, selection, and regeneration of hybrid cells into whole plants are required to produce cybrids. Cybrids can be used to study cytoplasmic genes and transfer desirable agricultural traits, overcoming sexual incompatibility barriers in plant breeding.
A presentation covering the process of protoplast culture including protoplast isolation, protoplast fusion, culture of protoplast, its application, factors affecting protoplast culture and the future of protoplasts.
Application of plant tissue culture/ micro-propagationSushil Nyaupane
Tissue culture is the process of growing cells or tissues in sterile conditions. It allows for rapid cloning of plant materials. Plant tissue culture involves excising plant parts and growing them on nutrient media. This allows for mass multiplication of plant materials irrespective of season. Some key developments include Haberlandt's proposal of plant cell culture in 1902, and Murashige and Skoog's nutrient medium in 1962. Micropropagation is now used for conservation of rare species, producing disease-free plants, mutation breeding, and more. The future of this technique remains promising.
Somatic hybridization is a technique used to produce hybrid plants by fusing protoplasts (plant cells without cell walls) from two different plant species or varieties. There are several key steps:
1. Isolation of protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. Enzymatic methods using cellulase and pectinase enzymes are more common.
2. Fusion of the protoplasts using chemical fusogens like polyethylene glycol (PEG) or physical methods like electrofusion. This results in hybrid cells called heterokaryons.
3. Selection and culture of the hybrid cells using techniques like antibiotic resistance or genetic markers.
4. Regeneration
Somatic hybridization is a technique used to create hybrid plants by fusing isolated plant cells called protoplasts from two different plant species or varieties. This fusion occurs under in vitro conditions and can result in symmetric hybrids that contain chromosomes from both parents, or asymmetric hybrids that lose chromosomes from one parent. Cybrids are a type of hybrid where the nucleus comes from one species but the cytoplasm, including chloroplasts and mitochondria, comes from both parental species. Somatic hybridization and cybrid production allow for novel combinations of genes that can provide agricultural benefits like stress resistance but technical challenges remain in regenerating hybrid plants.
The document discusses protoplast fusion, which involves removing the cell walls of plant cells to create naked protoplasts that can then be fused. It describes how to isolate protoplasts from plant tissues using either mechanical or enzymatic methods. The fusion of protoplasts from different species or varieties can create hybrid cells called heterokaryons or hybrids. Techniques to induce protoplast fusion include treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG), calcium ions, electricity, or sodium nitrate. Successful somatic hybridization follows a procedure of isolating, fusing, regenerating cell walls, and selecting hybrid plant cells and colonies. Applications of protoplast fusion include combining genomes of sterile plants and
Plant tissue culture involves growing plant cells, tissues, or organs in sterile conditions on a nutrient culture medium. Key aspects of plant tissue culture include selecting and sterilizing explant tissue, transferring it to a solid culture medium containing hormones, and periodically moving the growing tissue to new media for multiplication. The growing plantlets are eventually transferred to pots and grown in a greenhouse. Plant tissue culture allows for conservation of endangered species, production of virus-free plants, hybrid regeneration, and faster plant growth.
This document provides an introduction and history of plant tissue culture. It discusses various types of plant tissue cultures including callus culture, cell suspension culture, protoplast culture, meristem culture, anther culture, somatic embryogenesis, and ovary/ovule culture. The key applications of these culture techniques are the production of virus-free plants, mass production of desirable genotypes, production of haploid plants, and genetic transformation.
basic principles and protocol in plant tissue cultureAlia Najiha
Plant tissue culture involves growing plant cells, tissues, or organs in an artificial nutrient medium under sterile conditions. It allows for the rapid production of exact genetic copies of plants and is used to regenerate whole plants from genetically modified plant cells. The key requirements for successful tissue culture are appropriate explant tissue, a suitable growth medium, aseptic conditions to prevent microbial contamination, growth regulators, and frequent subculturing to provide nutrients and remove waste. The basic steps are selection of explant tissue from a healthy mother plant, sterilization of the tissue, establishment of the explant in a culture medium, multiplication through callus formation and shoot development, and root formation through manipulation of growth regulators. Benefits include providing pathogen-free plants
The presentation covered the basic steps of plant tissue culture, including setting up a tissue culture lab with areas for media preparation, aseptic transfer, culture, analysis, and acclimatization. It discussed media components and preparation, sterilization techniques like filtration, radiation, and chemicals, and sterilizing plant tissues using chemicals like sodium hypochlorite. Proper cleaning of glassware and sterilization of equipment and materials are essential for maintaining aseptic conditions.
The report, by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF, highlights the changing and devastating impact of conflicts on children. It notes that advances have been made in protecting children from war crimes such as unlawful recruitment by armed forces and groups and sexual violence. It also urges the international community to take concrete actions to stop abuses of children in armed conflict.
This document outlines the work of a student team called the Athenas on addressing issues faced by women in society. It discusses problems faced by women such as rape, female infanticide, illiteracy, and economic inactivity. It then provides general solutions for women's empowerment such as improving education, infrastructure, rights, political participation, and combating violence. The team was inspired by the work of Vaibhavi Ulmale from Maharashtra who empowered girls in her village. The team implemented their ideas in a local society and college by forming women's groups and organizing cultural events.
Changing The Story: A Road Map For Addressing Violence Against Women And Gi...Above Whispers
Keynote Address delivered at the 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER: STRENGTHENING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN A CHANGING WORLD
On
SEPTEMBER 5TH 2016.
By
Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi
At The , University Of Benin
This document discusses the issue of gender imbalance and discrimination against girls in Indian society. It notes that illegal practices like sex-selective abortion are still occurring, killing girls before birth. This has led to low girl to boy ratios in schools and society overall. The document advocates for protecting girls' rights, ending child marriage, and giving girls equal opportunities to boys so they can reach their full potential and contribute positively to the world. It provides examples of actions people can take to help address this issue.
This document discusses the issues of gender inequality and violence against girls in society. It notes that sex-selective abortion and killing of baby girls at birth are problems that have led to an imbalance in the ratio of girls to boys. The document advocates for valuing girls equally and ensuring they have the same rights and opportunities as boys, free from child marriage and other forms of discrimination. It also provides suggestions for actions people can take to support girls' rights.
The document discusses the themes of bullying, violence, and their effects that are portrayed in the movie "In a Better World". It describes how the main character Elias suffers from bullying at school and how his friend Christian responds violently to protect him. It also examines how relationships and environments can influence people's behaviors, for better or worse.
This document provides information on violence against women and calls to action to address it. It discusses types of violence women face, international efforts to eliminate it including designating November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It outlines the UNiTE campaign's 2020 theme of "Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!" and provides 10 specific calls to action communities and individuals can take to help address violence against women, such as listening to and believing survivors, teaching consent, and advocating for better data collection.
Sexual abuse threatens children's well-being, education, and career goals. It refers to unwanted sexual contact or activity and can include kissing, touching, rape or attempting rape of someone unable or unwilling to consent. Victims often experience low self-esteem, depression, guilt, sleep issues, lack of trust, and difficulty with intimacy. International statistics show hundreds of thousands of reported sexual abuse cases annually. Local statistics in Trinidad and Tobago ranged from 17.7% to 25.5% reported cases between 2004-2009. Proposed strategies to address this issue include creating educational clubs for youth, producing short films and presentations, and distributing informational fliers.
This document discusses domestic violence and provides statistics. It defines both criminal and non-criminal domestic violence behaviors. It notes that every day, 4 women, 1 man, and almost 5 children die from domestic violence. Children who witness domestic violence are physically abused at a rate 1500% higher than average. The document outlines consequences for victims of domestic violence and provides encouragement for victims to leave dangerous situations and begin living freely without abuse.
This document discusses stopping child sexual abuse in Nigeria. It defines child sexual abuse and outlines its devastating effects on victims, including fear, depression, pregnancy, and even suicide. Statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys in Nigeria experience sexual violence before age 18. The document calls for preventive measures like educating children, minimizing isolation with adults, and speaking out against abuse. It advocates creating awareness of the trauma of abuse, encouraging victims to speak out, and establishing support services to help victims recover. The overall goal is to end child sexual abuse in Nigeria by changing social norms and protecting children.
The document discusses various types of violence faced by women in India, both within and outside the home. It outlines forms of violence such as girl child abuse, wife beating, battering, and rape. It notes that girl child abuse often involves sexual aggression, beatings, and child labor within the home. Wife beating and battering is one of the most common forms of violence within homes, though it is often accepted and not reported due to social norms. The document aims to understand the consequences of violence on women's status in society.
This document discusses gender-based violence and aims to differentiate between sex and gender. It begins by defining key terms like gender-based violence, sexual identity, and intimacy. It then discusses the prevalence of violence against women globally and some common myths about rape. The document also identifies implicit and explicit factors in schools that can lead to gender-based violence, such as gender stereotyping, lack of gender-fair policies and practices, and teacher tolerance of male domination. It concludes by emphasizing the need to address the root cultural causes of gender inequity and promote respectful relationships from a young age.
We have done survey on women's safety in India. We gather response from few people residing inside India to answer some basic question and they have shared their POV. We have cumulated the information gather from survey.
Note:
- This presentation is made for educational purpose.
- This presentation consists gif content. Download to view it.
This document discusses the issue of child sexual abuse in India. It notes that India is not a safe place for children and cites statistics showing a sharp rise in reported child rape cases from 2001 to 2011. It examines sociological factors that may contribute to the problem, such as lack of sex education and easy access to pornography on mobile phones. The document profiles typical rapists and lists characteristics of predators. It provides tips for protecting children and urges teaching boys to respect girls. Overall, the document outlines the serious and growing problem of child sexual abuse in India through statistics and discussion of contributing social issues.
1. The document discusses developing a gender-sensitive approach to resettling girls and young women leaving custody. It highlights that girls often have different pathways into offending compared to boys, such as experiences of trauma, victimization, and fragile relationships.
2. A gender-prism model is proposed that incorporates both gender-neutral resettlement principles and gender-responsive interventions that address the particular vulnerabilities and relationship needs of girls. This includes trauma-informed care, empowering girls in planning their futures, and fostering caring relationships with professionals.
3. Questions are raised about how to recognize the differences girls face in resettlement, implications for services both in and out of custody, and overcoming obstacles to promoting girls'
Media coverage of violence against children in JamaicaTaitu Heron
This paper looks at how the Jamaican print media (the Observer, the Gleaner and the Star) depicts children who suffer from sexual abuse. It aims also to respond to the following question - How is the newspapers’ understanding of children and sexual violence against children informed by a current prevailing gender order, discourses on sexuality, and cultural attitudes and practices towards children?
Domestic violence is a widespread problem in the USA that has serious impacts. It is defined as abusive behaviors between intimate partners and can include physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Women are disproportionately affected, with 85% of non-lethal domestic violence victims being female. Black Americans experience the highest rates of domestic violence. Solutions include increasing awareness, funding domestic violence hotlines, establishing women's shelters, and implementing stricter laws against domestic abuse.
Domestic violence is a widespread problem in the USA that has serious impacts. It is defined as abusive behaviors between intimate partners and can include physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Women are disproportionately affected, with 85% of non-lethal domestic violence victims being female. Black Americans experience the highest rates of domestic violence. Impacts include health issues, behavioral problems, and mental health issues for victims and witnesses. Domestic violence also negatively impacts workplaces and the economy through increased medical and criminal justice costs as well as decreased productivity. Solutions include increasing awareness, supporting domestic violence hotlines and shelters, and implementing stricter legal consequences for abusers.
Putting Children First: Session 3.1.C Nicola Jones - What shapes adolescent p...The Impact Initiative
Putting Children First: Identifying solutions and taking action to tackle poverty and inequality in Africa.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 23-25 October 2017
This three-day international conference aimed to engage policy makers, practitioners and researchers in identifying solutions for fighting child poverty and inequality in Africa, and in inspiring action towards change. The conference offered a platform for bridging divides across sectors, disciplines and policy, practice and research.
Similar to Unspeakable Crimes Against_children (20)
In dit overzicht zie je wat Save the Children heeft gedaan voor Syrische vluchtelingen. Ook wordt duidelijk wat we gepland hebben.
http://www.savethechildren.nl/syrie
http://www.savethechildren.nl/syrie
Het conflict in Syrië is al weer twee jaar aan de gang en de stroom vluchtelingen neemt met de dag toe. Inmiddels zijn 1 miljoen mensen de grens met de buurlanden overgestoken. De helft van de vluchtelingen is nog kind. Ze hebben alles moeten achterlaten en zijn zwaar getraumatiseerd.
Save the Children werkt in de omringende landen aan de opvang van kinderen en hun families. Daarom bouwt Save the Children veilige speelplekken waar kinderen kunnen spelen en leren om weer kind te zijn. Dit is van levensbelang voor de verwerking van hun traumatische ervaringen.
Daarnaast voorzien we gevluchte gezinnen van noodgoederen en voedsel, zorgen dat kinderen weer onderwijs volgen en vangen kinderen op die zonder volwassenen zijn gevlucht. In Syrië reiken we noodgoederen uit. Help ook mee!
There are four major barriers that prevent mothers from breastfeeding their babies:
1. Community and cultural pressures that discourage breastfeeding.
2. Lack of support from health workers due to shortages. Having a skilled birth attendant doubles the chances of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour.
3. Insufficient maternity legislation in most poor countries. Paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks is needed to support breastfeeding.
4. Marketing activities of some breastmilk substitute companies that undermine breastfeeding. Strong legislation is needed to restrict inappropriate promotion. Addressing these barriers through community empowerment, health system strengthening, supportive policies and regulation of companies could significantly increase breastfeeding rates and save children's
Door stijgende voedselprijzen zijn wereldwijd 170 miljoen kinderen ondervoed. Elk jaar leidt dit wereldwijd tot de dood van 2,3 miljoen kinderen per jaar. Dat staat in het rapport ´A High Price to Pay´ dat Save the Children heeft uitgebracht.
The Child Development Index 2012 report shows that between 2005-2010:
1) 127 countries improved their scores on the Child Development Index.
2) An average of 9,000 fewer children under five died per day, compared to 1995-1999.
3) 50 million more children were enrolled in primary school, and 36 million fewer children were underweight, compared to 1995-1999.
This report analyzes improvements in children's lives across five sectors - health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education, and child protection - over the past two decades. It examines case studies of countries that have made strong progress and finds that "when the right steps and approaches are taken, 'development works'." However, more needs to be done to meet child-related UN Millennium Development Goals. The report identifies key drivers of progress including supportive policies, well-implemented programs, funding, social change, and technology. It calls for greater investment in "child-sensitive" development and highlights the role of development assistance.
Drinkwater in Gaza is verontreinigd met kunstmest en menselijk afval, waardoor het levensgevaarlijk is om te drinken. Dit schokkende nieuws blijkt uit het rapport “Gaza’s Children: Falling Behind” van Save the Children en de organisatie Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Ook het water dat uit particuliere bronnen wordt verkocht, is vaak besmet en onveilig om te drinken. In het gebied (1,5 keer zo groot als Amsterdam) dat sinds 2007 wordt geblokkeerd, wonen meer dan 1,6 miljoen mensen, onder wie meer dan 800.000 kinderen. Save the Children maakt zich ernstige zorgen over de gezondheid van deze mensen en is bang voor de uitbraak van besmettelijke ziektes.
Het slechtste land om moeder te worden: Niger
Moederdagrapport Save the Children: rangschikking positie moeders
Het beste land om een kind te krijgen is Noorwegen; het land met de slechtste omstandigheden om moeder te worden is Niger. Dat staat in een rapport van kinderrechtenorganisatie Save the Children dat vandaag ter gelegenheid van Moederdag wordt uitgebracht onder de naam State of the World’s Mothers 2012. Het rapport bevat een lijst van 165 landen die gerangschikt zijn op de toegankelijkheid tot gezondheidszorg, onderwijs en economische mogelijkheden. Van de onderste 10 landen van de index, worden zeven landen op dit moment hard getroffen door de voedselcrisis. Ook Niger kampt met de gevolgen van de voedselcrisis, waardoor miljoenen kinderen het gevaar lopen om ondervoed te raken. Door de ernstige droogte en de slechte oogst stegen de prijzen voor voedsel waardoor met name de allerarmste kinderen hard getroffen worden.
In veel landen zijn vaccins, antibiotica en verzorging tijdens de zwangerschap voor grote aantallen vrouwen onbereikbaar, als gevolg waarvan de sterftepercentages van moeders en kinderen bij geboorten hoog zijn. Ondervoeding is een van de belangrijkste oorzaken van deze moeder en kindersterfte. Moeders die in hun kinderjaren ondervoed zijn geweest, brengen vaker kinderen ter wereld met een laag geboortegewicht. Als een moeder in armoede leeft, overwerkt is, laag is opgeleid en een slechte gezondheid heeft, is de kans groot dat zij haar baby niet voldoende kan voeden. En dat heeft onomkeerbare gevolgen. In Afrika heeft zo’n 20% van de vrouwen een extreem laag gewicht, in Zuid-Azie ligt dit percentage op 35%. Deze vicieuze cirkel moet worden doorbroken. En de manieren om dit te kunnen doorbreken zijn vaak simpel: door het promoten van borstvoeding zouden we jaarlijks een miljoen kinderen kunnen redden. De eerste 1000 dagen van het leven van een kind zijn cruciaal. In die periode kun je het verschil maken door borstvoeding te promoten en locale gezondheidswerkers op te leiden.
www.savethechildren.nl
Elk jaar worden zo'n 15 miljoen baby's in de wereld te vroeg geboren. Dit is meer dan een op de 10 geboorten, zo blijkt uit het rapport ‘Born Too Soon’, dat vandaag is verschenen. Het rapport is opgesteld door kinderrechtenorganisatie Save the Children, The March of Dimes Foundation, het Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health en de World Health Organisation. Meer dan een miljoen van deze te vroeg geboren baby's sterven kort na de geboorte; talloze anderen hebben de rest van hun leven last van een fysieke of neurologische problemen die ten koste kunnen gaan van gezinnen en de maatschappij.
Vroeggeboorte (voor de 37e week van de zwangerschap) is een niet erkende doodsoorzaak. Vroegtijdige geboortes zijn goed voor bijna de helft van alle pasgeboren doden wereldwijd en is de tweede belangrijke doodsoorzaak bij kinderen onder de vijf jaar (na longontsteking). Nieuwe cijfers in het rapport tonen zowel de omvang van het probleem en de verschillen tussen landen. Veel landen met een hoge vroeggeboorte cijfer liggen in Afrika en Azië.
Wereldwijd hebben kinderen het beter dan ooit. Vergeleken met een paar decennia geleden overlijden er per dag minder jonge kinderen, leven er minder kinderen in armoede en gaan meer kinderen goed gevoed naar school.
Dit bemoedigende nieuws blijkt uit een nieuw rapport van UNICEF en Save the Children - voorbereid in samenwerking met het Overseas Development Institute. Nog beter nieuws is dat we weten hoe we nog meer vooruitgang moeten boeken; met meer nadruk op de meest kwetsbare kinderen. Daar waar kinderen het grootste gebrek hebben aan basale voorzieningen, kan op een kosteneffectieve en efficiënte manier snel vooruitgang worden geboekt.
Casestudies in het rapport laten zien dat verschillende factoren bijdragen aan de vooruitgang voor kinderen: sterkere en expliciete nationale wil om te investeren in kinderen, ondersteunende programma's en meer ontwikkelingssamenwerking gericht op kinderen.
Het volledige rapport verschijnt binnenkort.
4. contents
Executive summary v
Part 1: Understanding sexual violence
against children in conflict 1
1 What is the scale of the problem? 2
2 Who suffers sexual violence in conflict? 4
3 Where does it happen? 5
4 Who are the perpetrators? 9
5 Why does it happen? 10
6 What is the impact on children? 15
Part 2: Preventing and responding to
sexual violence against children 19
1 The Deliver–Empower–Change–Reform model 20
Deliver comprehensive child-centred services 20
Empower children and their communities (especially women and girls) 23
Change social norms to reduce the likelihood of sexual violence against children 24
Reform laws and institutions and build political will to prevent and respond to sexual violence 25
2 Gaps in funding for protection in emergencies 29
Conclusion 36
What we’re calling for 37
Endnotes 38
5. photo :
katie
seaborne /
save
the
children
Madeleine, 16
Madeleine and her older sister were me and my sister but I didn’t understand because
taken from their home in a village in the they were speaking in another language. A soldier
Democratic Republic of Congo by two took my sister away. Another soldier then took me
soldiers. They were forced to walk for four and raped me. I was thinking, ‘Will I ever be able
hours and then raped. to go home again? Maybe I’ll get pregnant. If I do
– what will happen? What will I do?’
“Two soldiers came to our house. They had guns
and they stole all the money we had. “After that they took me back to my sister and
let us go. I was very upset and in a lot of pain.
“Then they took me and my sister and told us
they were going to kill us. My parents couldn’t “I haven’t told my friends. I don’t know how they
do anything because the soldiers had guns. I was would react. Maybe I would get a bad reputation
so scared. in my village. But my family knows and they
support me.
“They walked me and my sister in silence into
the bush. It took four hours and they were hitting “It has happened to other girls. When there is
us with their guns to make us walk faster. It was conflict, women and girls suffer a lot. We must
night-time. I kept falling over in the mud because teach the government and the leaders so that the
it was so dark. soldiers don’t do these things.”
“We arrived at their place in the bush. There were
other soldiers there. They were saying things to
6. Executive summary
“I can’t forget what happened. My head is full of children, teachers, religious leaders, peacekeepers and
these things – what happened to my friends, my humanitarian staff – trusted people from all walks of
family. It’s not peaceful in my head.” life. In countries where women and girls are already
– Aissatou,1 aged 15, reflecting on events in Mali in early 20122
heavily discriminated against, young girls face the
greatest threat. They are particularly exposed to high
“I want to tell the world that we need peace – levels of rape, but also early or forced marriage and
stop the war. We need to make sure children and unintended pregnancy. Although less apparent, sexual
women are protected. People who rape need to violence against boys is also common. Both girls and
be arrested.” boys are often reluctant to report the crime, because
– Félicité, aged 13, who was raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo of the social stigma and fear of retribution.
after being displaced from her village in December 20123
High levels of sexual violence plague children in
Sexual violence is one of the most horrific crimes post-conflict situations, too, as they are subjected to
committed during conflict. No one should have to violations including sexual abuse, sexual exploitation
endure the pain and humiliation of rape and sexual and trafficking.
exploitation and violence, and it is particularly
deplorable when a child is subjected to this brutality. The impact of sexual violence on children is
catastrophic – physically, psychologically and socially.
The prevalence in conflict of sexual violence against Children who have been victims of sexual violence
children is shocking. Save the Children’s research and are often left with serious physical injuries, which can
programming experience indicates that girls especially be particularly severe because their growing bodies
but also boys under the age of 18 often make up the are not yet fully developed. Damage to children’s
majority of survivors of sexual violence in conflict and reproductive systems can leave them incontinent,
conflict-affected countries; sometimes more than 80% infertile and condemned to a lifetime of bleeding and
of those affected by sexual violence are children.4 pain. They are at high risk of contracting sexually
In countries across the world where Save the transmitted infections, including syphilis, gonorrhoea
Children works – Afghanistan, Colombia, Côte and HIV. Girls who become pregnant can suffer
d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jordan, life-threatening complications during childbirth, will
Lebanon, Mali, Myanmar (Burma), the occupied often be forced to drop out of school, and can face
Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan and Syria social exclusion and stigmatisation. Their chances
– and in refugee camps, including those in Ethiopia for further education, livelihoods and marriage may
and Kenya, thousands of girls and boys are subject to be severely diminished or completely eliminated,
sexual violence. condemning them to a lifetime of extreme poverty
and increased vulnerability to further exploitation.
Sexual violence may be committed by armed groups, For the thousands of children who survive sexual
gangs and/or governmental armed forces. Children are violence, the key priority is to try to recover from
also victims of sexual violence in detention and are the trauma. Too often, however, there is little or no
recruited and/or used by armed forces and groups for appropriate response to their needs, and this deepens
sexual purposes. They may become the ‘property’ of their suffering immeasurably. Even worse, we know a
one or more fighters, to whom they provide sexual great deal about how to protect children from sexual
services, or act as ‘wives’ to individual fighters. violence, even in emergencies, but lack of political will
But sexual violence in times of war is also committed and funding means we aren’t always able to put in
by family members, community members, other place sufficient programming.
v
7. In 2013 there is a historic opportunity to change the When we consider the problem of sexual violence
unspeakable crimes against children
way the world thinks about sexual violence in conflict: in conflict from the perspective of children, it also
during its leadership of the G8, the UK government becomes clear that preventing sexual violence from
(and Foreign Secretary William Hague in particular) has becoming widespread in conflict in the first place
made a commitment to prioritise the issue of sexual should be at the top of our priority list. Preventive
violence in conflict. William Hague has described sexual measures include a wide range of activities, from
violence in conflict as “our generation’s slave trade”: a providing adequate lighting in refugee camps, building
complex issue that was once seen to be unsolvable but toilets inside camps and buildings and ensuring access
was eventually addressed with the help of concerted to education and shelter, to securing a change in
international action. attitudes and behaviours by tackling discrimination
against women and girls.
But there is a danger that even with this welcome
leadership, the opportunity to make real progress
2 Fund the protection of children
on the ground will be missed unless we address the
and the prevention of violence
specific challenges facing children. We are calling on
the G8 countries to take the following action: In spite of increasing international attention to the
issue of sexual violence in conflict, there remains
1 Place children at the centre of international a severe lack of funding and political priority for
action on sexual violence in conflict preventing and responding to sexual violence (and
other protection concerns) on the ground in conflict-
Children, and especially girls, often make up the
affected countries. Our analysis shows, for example,
majority of survivors of sexual violence in conflict, but
that only 22% of humanitarian funding needs for the
their particular needs are too frequently neglected.
protection sector were met in 2011. This should be
To ensure that this doesn’t happen, we are calling
seen as essential, not optional, and receive the same
on the G8 countries to place children at the centre
level of priority as other sectors such as food, shelter
of international action on sexual violence in conflict.
Humanitarian funding by sector in 2011
Funding needs Commitments/ % Gap between
($US) contributions funding and
($US) commitments
1 Food 2,848,202,388 2,257,011,715 79 591,190,673
2 Coordination and support services 603,597,993 392,401,072 65 211,196,921
3 Health 1,228,381,112 787,218,660 64 441,162,452
4 Safety and security of staff and operations 7,270,516 4,099,367 56 3,171,149
5 Agriculture 771,350,586 384,924,176 50 386,426,410
6 Water and sanitation 745,971,596 340,419,671 46 405,551,925
8 Multi-sector 999,783,070 451,601,069 45 548,182,001
7 Education 305,981,906 136,518,374 45 169,463,532
10 Mine action 62,715,909 25,476,855 41 37,239,054
11 Shelter and non-food items 399,089,308 147,445,839 37 251,643,469
12 Economic recovery and infrastructure 305,978,894 88,709,973 29 217,268,921
13 Protection/human rights/rule of law 639,040,697 140,709,422 22 498,331,275
15 Sector not specified – 486,926,155 N/A 486,926,155
Total 8,917,363,975 5,643,462,348
Average
48
vi
8. and water. Save the Children’s experience shows that laws and policies relevant to rape and sexual violence
Ex
sexual violence is not an inevitable part of conflict and to ensure that international criminal law as
and that barriers can be built between children codified in the Rome Statute is incorporated into
and violence. When sufficient funding and priority national law. G8 countries should also assist efforts
ecutive
is attached to the protection sector, programmes at documenting sexual violence, for example, by
across what we call the Deliver–Empower–Change– making available expert investigators, with a view to
Reform5 spectrum can prevent and respond to sexual ensuring accountability.
violence in ways that address the particular needs and
summary
vulnerabilities of children. We are therefore also calling 4 Ensure the UN has the mandate, capacity
on G8 countries to ensure that funding to protect children and resources to play its role in protecting
is prioritised in every humanitarian response. children from sexual violence
UN peacekeeping troops, for example, must have
3 End impunity for sexual violence a clear mandate to provide effective protection
against children to civilians, and must prioritise the protection and
In contexts where state authority has collapsed promotion of children’s rights. The UK is currently
due to conflict, laws are no longer enforced and the lead on the UN Security Council on protection
combatants or civilians can commit sexual violence, of civilians, and therefore has a particular window of
usually with complete impunity. Prosecutions for opportunity to influence now. Also, the coordination
sexual violence in conflict affected countries are not mechanisms of the UN that can play a role in
prioritised on either global or national levels, and preventing sexual violence in conflict are chronically
survivors face many hurdles in seeking accountability. under-financed. With minimal additional resources,
G8 countries should exert maximum pressure on the UN coordination mechanisms could work more
governments and/or armed groups to respect their effectively to prevent sexual violence in conflict from
obligations under international humanitarian and human becoming widespread. G8 countries should ensure that
rights law, by immediately halting all acts of rape and all parts of the UN that can play a role in preventing
other sexual violence and recruitment or use of children, and responding to sexual violence in conflict have the
and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice; necessary resources, skills and political backing to tackle
by ratifying the Rome Statute of the International the issue.
Criminal Court (ICC); and by strengthening national
vii
9. photo :
paul
smith /
save
the
children
Sandra, 15
Sandra lives in an area of a city in Colombia “The next day my mother was helping me take a
that is known for the presence of armed bath and there was blood. My mother asked me
groups, conflict and violence. When Sandra what had happened so I told her everything. We
was five she was raped by her uncle. reported my uncle. He was captured and put in
jail but then he escaped. Now he is in the streets.
“I have lived here for 13 years and every day
there is more conflict, more trouble for children. “It’s very difficult to explain to you how it makes
Before they used to respect children but now you feel. The school helped me with psychological
they don’t care whether they’re children, babies, help but I still haven’t confronted it completely.
pregnant mothers – they still kill them. I can’t forget it. I try to feel the same way as
other children but it’s difficult.”
“And it’s common that gang members rape girls.
For the past two years, Sandra has been
“I have been raped. I was five years old. My
attending a project supported by Save the
mother was working and my father too and my
Children, where children learn about their
older sister was studying. So I was with my uncle.
rights and have opportunities to express
He gave dinner to my two little sisters but he
themselves through writing, drawing, dance,
didn’t give me dinner. We went to bed – me with
theatre and music.
my sisters but I couldn’t sleep so he took me to
his room. He raped me.
10. part 1
Understanding
sexual violence
against children
in conflict
During conflict and instability, children6 are exceptionally vulnerable to a wide
range of human rights abuses and protection risks: separation from their families;
detention; forced displacement; torture; lack of food and shelter; lack of access to
health and education services; abduction; recruitment and use by armed forces or
groups; rape, and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Sexual violence is defined for the purposes of this report as any act, attempt
or threat of a sexual nature that results, or is likely to result, in the physical,
psychological or emotional harm of an individual, including sexual abuse and
sexual exploitation. This includes rape, incest, harassment, forced prostitution,
sexual slavery and sex trafficking.7
11. 1 What is the scale
of the problem?
When we consider that 75–95% of rapes are • In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in
never reported to the police in England, it 8 2008, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) recorded
should come as no surprise that we know 16,000 cases of sexual violence against women and
little about the full extent of sexual violence girls. Nearly 65% of cases involved children, mostly
adolescent girls. An estimated 10% of victims in
committed in conflict and post-conflict settings.
this period were children less than ten years old.
16
The problem of sexual violence against children is • In 2009 in Colombia, more than half of the victims
enough of a scourge even in countries that are not of sexual violence helped by the International
conflict-affected: the UN estimates that up to 50% of Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in one
sexual assaults worldwide are committed against girls programme were children.17
aged under 16.9 One of the few global studies of the • In the Central African Republic, nearly half of
sexual abuse of children across a number of countries gender-based violence survivors who received
– mostly rich countries that are not experiencing support from the IRC were girls under the age
conflict – found that 21.2% of females and 10.7% of of 18.18
males were victims of sexual abuse between the ages • Almost one-fifth of girls in Haiti’s capital
of zero to 18; this means an average of nearly 16% Port-au-Prince were raped during an armed
of all children.10 If we apply these global child sexual rebellion in 2004 and 2005.19
abuse prevalence rates just to the population of • During the post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire
children living in conflict-affected countries, we can between 1 November 2010 and 30 September
estimate that nearly 30 million children have been or 2011, children made up 51.7% of cases of sexual
will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.11 violence. In more than half of the cases of sexual
And it may well be more. violence against children, the survivors were
below 15 years of age.20
The few figures available and Save the Children’s
experience in conflict-affected countries indicate that
children – especially girls but also boys – often make
up the majority of survivors of sexual violence in
conflict-affected countries.12 In some cases, more aissatou21
than 80% of those affected by sexual violence in
conflict-affected countries are children: Aissatou (aged 15, Mali) remembers the day
• In Sierra Leone, more than 70% of the sexual the rebels first entered her town and raped her
violence cases seen by the International Rescue friend Ines:
Committee (IRC) were girls under 18, and more “The rebels went into the village and took girls – not
than 20% of those were girls under 11.13 Another women, but girls. They were 15, 16, 17. They said they
estimate from the conflict period estimates that needed the girls to go and prepare food for them.
as many as 215,000 to 257,000 Sierra Leonean They took them into their cars and brought them into
women and girls may have been subjected to the bush. They left them in the bush after they had
sexual violence.14 finished raping them – but they beat them before
• In post-conflict Liberia, 83% of survivors of gender- leaving. I know because my friend was one of them.
based violence in 2011–12 were younger than 17, There were 16 girls in total. My friend’s name is Ines;
and almost all of these cases involved rape.15 she is 15 now. She was 14 then, like me – we went to
school together.” 22
2
12. Why is it so difficult to have accurate statistics about Weaknesses in international
1 W
sexual violence in conflict? Part of the problem is data collection
the sensitive nature of the issue of sexual violence
hat is
in all cultures, and the especially extreme sensitivity There are significant weaknesses in data collection at
in some countries. Across the world, the taboo the international level too.26 In general, the data that
against acknowledging sexual violence is constant does exist is not disaggregated by age and excludes
the
and prevalent. In some countries, survivors of the experiences of younger children. Data on men
sexual violence may be ostracised, punished or even and boys is particularly rare.
scale
criminalised because of what happened to them, as we
Existing data collection initiatives, such as the GBVIMS
of
have seen in Afghanistan, where children and women
who report being victims of sexual violence have been (Gender-Based Violence Information Management
the
accused of crimes and publicly stoned or punished,23 System), need greater funding and more support.
and where a boy, aged 13, was charged with ‘moral More international organisations and UN agencies
crimes’ after being raped.24 should support the GBVIMS and not create new
or parallel data collection systems. The information
problem ?
“We will never take our case to [officials], because they gathered by the GBVIMS could be made more
will never support us, nor will elders ever assist us in accessible at the international level (it is currently
addressing issues of violence.” managed at the individual country level), and
– a participant in a Save the Children focus group discussion synthesised data (ie, that not at risk of compromising
(December 2012) with refugees who have fled Somalia
the security or identity of any individual survivors)
could be made more available for policy and
advocacy purposes.
Weaknesses in reporting
mechanisms at country level Other existing data collection efforts could also
better cover the issue of sexual violence against
While under-reporting of sexual violence is a significant children. UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster
issue for all survivors, the barriers to reporting Surveys (MICS) could expand the questions asked
violence against children may be even more significant. to incorporate data on sexual violence against
The lack of age-appropriate reporting mechanisms and children. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
child- and youth-focused services means that very few programme does ask a series of questions about
child survivors are recorded or assisted. sexual violence, but the youngest girls to whom these
questions are put are over the age of 15.
Many survivors lack information and awareness of
where to report sexual violence cases and where to
access services. Some services might not recognise
children’s particular vulnerabilities and needs – which
are different for boys, girls and adolescents – as
well as their levels of physical, cognitive and social
development, and tend to be better suited to the
needs of adult women. The stigma attached to sexual
violence means that girls and boys affected may be
unlikely to report.
“People have to report the things that happen. Can you
imagine if no one had seen what that man was doing
to my daughter? She might never have told me.”
– Maria, recounting the rape of her five-year-old daughter Diana in
Colombia by a stranger in a village they were visiting25
3
13. 2 Who suffers sexual
violence in conflict?
Adolescent27 and younger girls are recognised The prevalence and consequences of sexual
as the main victims of sexual violence against violence against boys during armed conflict, as well
children. Adolescent girls constitute one as in pre- and post-conflict situations, must not be
of the groups most at risk on account of underestimated. In the DRC, for example, men and
boys make up an estimated 4–10% of the survivors
their physical development and age. They
of sexual violence who seek treatment.29 Another
are particularly exposed to high levels of
study in DRC found that 9% of all men (and 22%
sexual violence such as rape, but also sexual of all women) surveyed reported having directly
exploitation, early or forced marriage, and experienced sexual violence during the conflict.30
unintended pregnancy. But very young girls
and boys and even babies are not immune to Even though sexual violence against men and boys
sexual violence. has been increasingly recognised by the international
community during the last decade and there is a
“A man who was from another place was there and he growing body of literature on the subject, the issue
saw the children. He took my daughter and raped her. of sexual violence against boys in particular remains
Nobody saw him. My husband’s brother realised this largely overlooked.
was happening and took my daughter from this man.
She was screaming and crying. At first, nobody in the Sexism and socio-cultural attitudes in pre-conflict
family knew.” situations influence and determine vulnerability to
sexual violence, abuse and exploitation in time of war.
– Maria, recounting the rape of her five-year-old daughter
Diana in Colombia, while visiting family in another village28
4
14. 3 Where does it happen?
Children caught up “The rebels were raping women… In [one area] they
in active conflict took two girls: one was 13 and the other was 14…
Then they took a 15-year-old… There were 15 or 16
During periods of armed conflict, levels of violence of them [men]. The one who was 13 died because they
facing children are greatly increased, and places where beat her so badly.”
children previously felt safe become targets for attack. – Barakissa, aged 29, describing the abduction and
collective rape of young girls in Mali32
Children can be attacked on the roads, in the fields,
inside their homes, in schools or on their way to or Moreover, it is generally reported that in most armed
from school, as they walk with their families to attend conflicts, sexual violence is occurring throughout the
religious gatherings, or when they are seeking food, country, even in areas where the level of conflict
water or firewood. is lower.
“Three girls were walking to the market… They were “My major responsibilities were washing clothes,
three friends: the oldest one was 18… the middle cleaning, carrying firewood, spying and messenger.
one was 16, and the youngest was 14… The rebels There was one more responsibility which I didn’t like
grabbed the girls and took them with them… Three at all and I don’t want to remember. I was raped
days later, they brought the girls back and left them every night by different commanders. I still remember
in front of their homes… The girls said that there the day when I was raped the first time. I was raped
were many men there. They treated them badly, until three times that night. I started feeling that all the
they were exhausted. They couldn’t see how many things being said about freedom were fake. I wanted to
men there were; they said it was hard to count in that escape from them but didn’t get chance.”
state… I saw the blood on their clothes. They could – Amita, remembering the three years she spent (from
barely walk… The oldest one, Djeneba, started getting the age of 13) with a Maoist militia in Nepal33
sick not long after, and throwing up… That’s when
During armed conflict, children are also particularly
they found out she was pregnant… She lost her baby
vulnerable to abduction, recruitment and/or use by
at six months. Since then, she’s been sick… It was nine
armed forces and groups. Both boys and girls are used
months ago that this happened, and she’s only starting
by armed forces and groups for sexual purposes, a
to get better now.”
trend which is prevalent across a range of conflict-
– Aminata, aged 27, describing the rape of three girls during the
conflict in Mali. They were grabbed on their way to the market.31
affected countries, including Colombia, the DRC,
South Sudan and Afghanistan. Children often become
Sexual violence against a child, including rape, may the ‘property’ of one or more fighters and are
be accompanied by beatings, threats or other acts forced to provide sexual services for them. Children
of torture, and household possessions or goods that may also attach themselves to individual fighters or
children might be carrying may be looted. The child or commanders as a self-protection strategy.
other family members may even be killed.
Sexual violence and abuse of children does not stop
Collective rape of adolescents and younger girls can when the fighting ends, including for those who
also happen, and rural populations are particularly have been associated with armed forces or groups.
vulnerable to attack. Typically, groups attack a village, Continuing contact with or control by combatants
killing civilians and raping women, girls and boys, can result in girls’ involvement in exploitative,
before making off with the community’s cattle, tools commercial sex or forced prostitution. Girls who
or clothing, and sometimes setting fire to the houses. have borne children while with armed groups face
5
15. additional challenges when attempting to reintegrate of assistance is far below international standards. As
unspeakable crimes against children
into their families and communities, risking rejection we are seeing through Save the Children’s response
of themselves or of their children. As a result, to the crisis, this particularly affects girls: the
adolescent girls may feel they have no choice conditions that families are living in are cramped,
but to settle outside their communities of origin. allowing girls in particular little privacy. Girls are often
Despite a focus on community-based interventions afraid to leave their shelter at night: the alarming
in reintegration programmes, such girls may miss presence of armed men means that fear of sexual
important socio-economic support, which in turn may violence is pervasive.36
force them to engage in risky, exploitative activities
According to the Child Protection Working Group,
to support themselves and their families. The socio-
there are reports that girls as young as 12, and also
economic situation of many children and families in
boys, have been sexually abused and that sexual abuse
the aftermath of conflict may also force some children
is taking place in detention.37 The prevalence of such
to engage in transactional sex or other exploitative
abuses is hard to establish, as survivors often do
activities in order to survive.
not report the attacks for fear of dishonouring their
family or bringing about reprisals. But fear of sexual
violence is repeatedly cited to Save the Children as
Sexual violence in the
one of the principal reasons why families flee their
context of displacement homes, and there are increasing reports of early
marriage as parents take desperate measures to
Children who are forced by conflict to flee to
‘protect’ their daughters from sexual violence.38
neighbouring countries as refugees, or who become
internally displaced within their own countries, are Safety and security measures to prevent situations
exposed to danger and insecurity. They may be in which girls and boys may be more susceptible to
repeatedly displaced and separated from their families abuse are often not taken into account sufficiently
during attacks, and are often compelled to walk for when humanitarian agencies establish a shelter or
days with no protection. In these conditions they are camp. For example, children (especially girls) in
especially vulnerable to sexual violence. displacement camps set up in government-run schools
in Lebanon for Palestinian refugees in 2007 reported
“There is a recent case of a girl who has suffered
being sexually harassed while visiting toilets located
from sexual abuse. She is now 11, and is from one of
out in the playgrounds. Save the Children raised
the communities in the countryside. There the people
the problem, and the toilets were moved inside the
have farms, but many people from this area have
buildings. Save the Children also raised awareness of
been displaced, not just by illegal armed groups and
the problem among parents and carers of children so
guerrillas but also by the army, because the army
they could make sure that children were not left to
needs places to keep watch. This has also led to cases
go to the toilets alone at night.
of children being raped. Families are scared of this, so
they leave their homes.” In camps in Ethiopia, more than 69% of the Somali
– A humanitarian field worker in Colombia 34
refugee population is composed of children under the
age of 18 (33% girls and 36% boys).39 In focus group
Internally displaced or refugee children living in formal
discussions, most women and girls reported having
and informal camps or within host communities are
heard of or experienced sexual violence in the camps,
also vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse.
including girls of 13 or younger.40 Women and girls
In Syria, for example, it is estimated that nearly reported feeling most at risk of rape when collecting
4 million people are currently in need of assistance firewood; to do this they had to move outside the
within the country, and an estimated 80,000 internally immediate vicinity of the camp, which left them
displaced people (IDPs) are sleeping rough in caves, alone and particularly vulnerable. In one set of focus
parks or barns.35 Some temporary shelters and group discussions almost all the women and girls
basic items are provided by Syrian or international interviewed reported having witnessed or survived
humanitarian agencies to people displaced in the rape (including gang rape) while collecting firewood.
country, but challenges to responding mean the level Given the frequency of the attacks, some women have
6
16. stopped collecting firewood, with severe implications Early or forced marriages are also prevalent in refugee
3 W
for their ability to cook and ensure adequate levels of and IDP camps. As the examples below show, in some
nutrition for their family. cases girls are forced to marry their rapist, either by
their parents to avoid the shame such violence brings
here
“I always go to the hills praying that I return safe for
to the family and the girl, or under pressure from the
my children, and that God will rule out rape or physical
attacker himself. In other cases, families pressurise
does it
violence this time.”
girls to marry in the belief that she will have access
– a female participant in a Save the Children focus group
(December 2012) discussion with refugees who have fled to services or in return for services or supplies for
Somalia, on her fears about collecting firewood the family.
happen ?
“Sexual violence/rape is prevalent in our camp, In the Dollo Ado camps in Ethiopia, Somali refugee
especially as women and girls go to collect firewood, girls as young as 11 are often ‘married’ to prevent
and we are always risking our lives as our children ‘dishonour’ for both the girl and her family in
would starve if we didn’t put our lives at stake.” the event that they are raped or sexually abused.
– a pregnant participant in a focus group (December 2012) Moreover, young girls who have been raped or
discussion with refugees who have fled Somalia sexually assaulted might also then be married to
In the Dadaab refugee camps on the Somalia-Kenya minimise ‘dishonour’ for the family.
border, young girls and adolescents in particular are “It is very important for a girl to get married soon,
frequently attacked while searching for firewood, as she will be safe from any risks and abuses in the
going to the toilet or walking to collect water, all of community. Furthermore, only few girls can control
which activities mean walking to the outskirts of the themselves and many would engage in unnecessary
camp or farther, which exposes them to increased sexual behaviours that are against the culture and the
risk. Across the Dadaab camps there are also religion of the society. We don’t want to hear things like
frequent cases of sexual violence against young boys. ‘Your daughter was seen with a boy’, or ‘Your daughter
Displaced or refugee children are particularly did this or that.’ As a family we want to be dignified, and
vulnerable to sexual abuse and physical harm when this can be achieved through getting girls married at
they become separated from their parents. This can an early age, otherwise many will end up in prostitution
be a result of the death of one or both parents, or the and bring shame to their families and clans.”
children may be sent to live elsewhere in the belief – a 64-year-old male participant in a Save the Children focus group
(December 2012) discussion with refugees who have fled Somalia
that they will be safer or have better education and
other facilities. In Myanmar, for example, children are Similarly, in the Dadaab camps in Kenya, early marriage
sent to camps by parents in the hope that they will be of girls as young as 13 is also widespread. One
able to access better education.41 adolescent girl reported to Save the Children that
men with money would often offer fathers their
Girls living in foster care or extended families can be
‘daily bread’ in return for marrying their daughters.
especially vulnerable to sexual abuse once they enter
Girl survivors of rape at the camp also reported to
puberty and start to develop. In addition to sexual
Save the Children that they felt powerless to refuse to
violence, girls living without their parents were more
marry their attacker for lack of other options and the
susceptible to being taken out of school, overworked
fear of being rejected by their families, pushed out of
and pushed into a forced or early marriage.
the camps, sent back to Somalia or even killed.
“At that time, I was five years old. My mother was
Early marriage of adolescent refugee girls from
working, and my father too, and my older sister was
Syria in Lebanon, some as young as 14, is used
studying. So I was with my uncle. He gave dinner to my
as a ‘protection’ and coping mechanism. While
two little sisters but he didn’t give me dinner. We went
early marriage was common among the Syrian
to bed – me with my sisters – but I couldn’t sleep so
population when they were still at home in Syria,
he took me to his room. In that moment, everything
with displacement to Lebanon there is evidence that
happened. He raped me.”
an increased number of girls are being married to
– Sandra, now aged 15, describing how she was raped by her uncle
after she was sent to live with extended family in Colombia42 community members to ‘protect’ them from rape,
7
17. while some are being married to rich men from In conflict or post-conflict situations, worsening
unspeakable crimes against children
the refugee or host community to offset living and poverty and the undermining of traditional social
accommodation costs.43 norms may force children into new forms of sexual
violence, exploitation and abuse, such as transactional
or commercial sex. Girls, in particular, may be
Sexual violence in detention encouraged or forced by their families to engage in
transactional sex with community members such as
The problem of sexual violence against children in teachers or store owners in exchange for materials
detention is a major concern within the juvenile and other items.46
justice arena in general. It springs from a disregard of
legislation and normative guidance to protect children One report in the eastern DRC estimated that up
within justice systems (that suggests, for example, to 80% of unaccompanied children were engaging
not placing children in the same detention facility in transactional sex.47 A further report detailed the
as adults). Within conflict, particularly where justice causes and ‘controllers’ of such exploitation.48 Poverty,
systems are weak and normal rules of detention are the lack of means to access education and the impact
often misapplied or not enforced, the risk of such of conflict were reported by both boy and girl
standards being disregarded is even greater. Certain respondents as the main drivers for their engagement
children are also at significant risk because of their in transactional sex. The general age of children was
ethnicity, nationality or perceived association with between 12 and 14 years (though some children as
a political or armed group, or because they have young as eight were also noted). And in Colombia,
experienced or witnessed sexual violence. This can it is estimated that 20,000 to 35,000 children have
include being tortured in a sexual manner. been forced into commercial sex work as a direct
consequence of the culture of violence and poverty
Children are particularly at risk of sexual violence resulting from the armed conflict.49
when they are detained and targeted for information,
because of the unequal power dynamics between Some families living in conflict areas may view ‘selling’
adults and children. Evidence from the Middle East their children into trafficking as a way of securing
highlights the particular vulnerability of boys to such their safety from the conflict. Save the Children staff
violence in that region. Recent reports on Israel working in conflict-affected areas report cases of girls
and the OPT by the UN Security Council Working being trafficked in northern Myanmar to be brides
Group on Children and Armed Conflict documented in China. This exploitation was primarily controlled
six cases of Palestinian boys being sexually assaulted by civilians, but civilians and military personnel were
by Israeli security forces and 20 cases in which boys reported to be clients.
were threatened with sexual assault.44 Looking at the long-term consequences of sexual
In Syria, sexual violence in detention has reportedly exploitation and trafficking coming out of conflict
been used in order to torture boys, and includes rape settings it is commonly believed that the frequent
and other penetration, sexual groping, forced nudity sexual exploitation of girls and trafficking for sexual
and beatings to genitalia.45 purposes witnessed during the Balkans War has led to
the continuing and worryingly high level of trafficking
of young girls for sexual purposes from and within
Sexual violence in pre- and South-East Europe seen today.50
post-conflict settings
It is important to recognise that sexual violence
is not a problem exclusive to times of conflict –
sexual violence, as well as other forms of violence,
is prevalent and problematic in peacetime in all
countries. It disproportionately affects women and
girls, although boys are subject to it as well.
8
18. 4 Who are the
perpetrators?
Armed actors, whether from government However, in many cases the stationing of troops,
armed forces or from non-state armed including those serving in peacekeeping missions,
groups, are likely to be the primary group of has also led to increases in the levels of sexual
perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict. exploitation of children. A joint study conducted by
Save the Children and UNHCR in Sierra Leone in
However, it should not be forgotten that a
2002 highlighted, for the first time, shockingly high
significant proportion will be civilians.
levels of sexual exploitation and abuse of civilians by
Such is the nature of conflict (particularly chronic, peacekeepers and other humanitarian staff (including
long-term or cyclical conflict and instability) that a volunteers and incentive workers53). It found relief
breakdown of socio-cultural norms combined with items being provided in exchange for sexual favours
strained economic conditions and likely impunity for and/or inappropriate relationships as a result of
perpetrators can result in an increase in the number the unequal power relations between displaced
of civilians committing sexual violence against children, communities and those who are mandated to protect
within the home and community. Indeed, reports and assist them.54
from IDP camps in northern Uganda showed that
It should also be noted that while men are likely to
sexual violence committed by civilians (other camp
represent the majority of perpetrators of sexual
residents) was much higher than that committed by
violence and exploitation against children, women
armed actors.51
are also responsible, particularly in relation to
“The man who raped me was the husband of my the control or exploitation of children engaged in
brother’s sister… He was a man who was related to transactional sex as a result of their economic and
the paramilitary group or guerrillas – I’m not sure family situations.55
which… After he raped me, I felt awful, I felt sad, I
cried and cried. I was pregnant. I really wanted to
die. I couldn’t eat anything. He was near to my house
and I was very scared. I didn’t go out, because I was
scared it would happen to me again. He went away
and I felt better, but then when he came back I felt the
same horrible feelings again. I was 18 when he raped
me.This happens a lot. There is a lot of violence and
people don’t report it.”
– Angie, aged 23, recounting the experience of
being raped in Colombia when she was 1852
9
19. 5 Why does it happen?
There are many different and sometimes “There is a problem of physical abuse here of women
overlapping reasons why armed and non- by men. Many of the men are chauvinistic. Some
armed individuals commit sexual violence women get used to this abuse, but it’s difficult and they
against children during conflict. This section never report it.”
– Maria, aged 33, describing violence against
explores the primary factors. women in her area of Colombia56
In many pre-conflict settings, women and girls
often suffer economic, social, cultural and political
Gender and power inequalities
discrimination, and many do not know of the rights
Sexual violence perpetuates power inequalities in and protections that may exist under national or
interpersonal relations and in society, reproducing international law. Social customs and customary laws
the structures that enable this type of violence to are also often highly discriminatory against women
exist before, during and after conflict. Such power and girls, and often take precedence over national
inequalities include those based on gender (male/ laws in relation to acts of violence against women in
female and male/male) as well as those based on age the community. In Afghanistan, for example, despite
(adult/child). An overwhelming factor at the heart a national law enacted in 2009 criminalising rape and
of gender-based violence is the pervasive inequality all forms of sexual and other violence against women,
between males and females and the discrimination women who have been raped are often subjected to
that women and girls face within societies as a whole. lengthy prison sentences pursuant to the Afghan Penal
There is a direct link between discrimination against Code,57 and punishments of flogging and stoning for
women and girls in peacetime and the intensified adultery have been reported.58
violence inflicted on women and girls in times of war. A key tool for perpetrators is their ability to make
“[Justified reasons for beating one’s wife include] their victims believe they (the victims) are to blame
a woman talking to another man in the market or for their abuse. In distortions of power between
elsewhere, losing the food ration, not taking good care adults and children that are influenced by gender
of the house-cleaning and washing, delaying in doing (ie, between adult and adolescent males and girls),
chores, neglecting children, burning food or preparing attitudes that girls are to blame for rape or that they
food which is not tasty, arguing with the husband over want to be raped are common, and in turn can fuel
inappropriate use of food rations.” further abuse.
– a 28-year-old female participant in a focus group (December Gender inequality and power relations are also
2012) discussion with refugees who have fled Somalia
relevant in the context of defining cultural values
In many conflict-affected countries, the fact that and practices, and within the wider framework of
females are considered second-class citizens is closely social relations between families and communities
related to the violence inflicted on women and girls, (for example, racial, ethnic, caste and social class
and to the discriminatory absence of appropriate inequalities).59 In some countries, superstition and
measures on the part of the state to combat fetishism are a further motivation of some fighters,
such violence. many of whom reportedly believe that having sexual
relations with a pre-pubescent child will make them
immune to disease, including HIV, or will cure them
if they already have contracted HIV, or protect them
from injury or death during combat.60
10
20. Changing and weakening Where children are not able to turn to such
5 W hy
of social norms institutions for guidance in social and sexual
development, they are likely to turn towards other,
“The most difficult thing to change is the culture – more counterproductive groups, and even perpetrate
this sexual violence has become a way of life… The violence themselves. In this way, sexual violence can
does it
thing that makes me sad is how the culture has got to be cyclical if not adequately addressed: “Cycles of
this. I don’t understand how this has become part of violence emerge as children who have been deeply
the culture.” traumatised by violence join armed groups, street
– A humanitarian field worker in Colombia61 gangs or live on the street because their family
happen ?
Armed conflict destroys many normal forms of networks cannot support them”.64
protection, and in particular governmental and
community mechanisms, such as pre-existing law
enforcement, statutory social or child welfare systems, Socio-economic and
schools and religious structures. Families are also cultural breakdown
often separated. Children are therefore made more
In non-conflict or pre-conflict settings, the socio-
vulnerable to sexual violence during conflict when
economic situation of families has been seen to be a
the family and community support systems that are
key driver of children’s vulnerability to sexual violence
so essential to a child’s survival and development are
and exploitation.65 The destabilising effect of conflict
fractured or collapse.
on families’ and communities’ economic stability can
During conflict, traditional institutions such as families, contribute to children’s vulnerability.
schools or religious institutions, which play a role in
Loss of livelihoods and a perceived loss of ‘manhood’
the development of children through the provision
are also cited as creating psychosocial pressure on
of protection and guidance (including on their social
men that can increase the prevalence of violence.
development and sex education), are often unable
Participants in focus group discussions with refugee
to provide support to children, leaving them at
populations who have fled Somalia, for example,
greater risk of violence and abuse. In many families,
described psychosocial pressure on men leading to
particularly in rural communities, parents and other
the increased use of cigarettes and abuse of ‘chat/
primary carers of children do not know how to
khat’ (a flowering plant with an amphetamine-like
effectively protect their children during conflict (for
stimulant), which may result in increased sexual
example, considering it appropriate for children to
violence in homes and in the camps.66
engage in hazardous and exploitative activities, or not
knowing how to protect their children from threats A lack of economic opportunities or access to
within communities).62 markets and income sources as well as increases in
female, single-parent and child-headed households
The protective role of parents and other carers of
can lead women and girls to engage in transactional
children is often undermined and damaged by the
sex in order to gain essential items or contribute to
effects of conflict and worsening socio-economic
household income. In countries with long histories
conditions, exacerbating situations where family and
of conflict and instability, there is evidence that the
community members are or can become perpetrators
economic impact of conflict, including reduced wages
of violence themselves. Poverty also has a negative
and high unemployment, can be seen in parts of the
impact on the support children receive from their
country that are not directly affected by conflict, as
families, as it encourages the use of children to
well as in those areas that are.
generate income. In certain contexts, families can even
encourage or take advantage of a child experiencing In Kinshasa, local organisations have reported
sexual violence or abuse: “Today some cases of families sending girls as young as eight to engage in
sexual violence are authorised by parents… they are transactional sex.67 In a study of children living and
no longer capable of taking charge of their children working on the street in Kinshasa, 63.3% of girls
and that is why when it comes to the application of interviewed stated that transactional sex or ‘survival’
the law, many parents prefer an informal settlement sex was their main source of income.68 Engagement
(arrangement à l’amiable)… because a cow is really a in risky sexual survival strategies such as transactional
source of wealth.”63
11
21. sex can lead to greater vulnerability to other sexual is seen to threaten their honour. In war this dynamic
unspeakable crimes against children
violence and abuse. Reduced economic conditions is used to further dishonour and humiliate families
within families may also contribute to an increase and communities.
in early or forced marriage, as levels of poverty may
“The girl they took was 16… They had uniforms – they
make dowries appear more useful than having a girl
were all dressed the same. They covered their eyes so
within the home.
she didn’t know who they were. They had guns. There
were five of them, and they all forced her to sleep with
them. They didn’t hit her, but they ruined her.”
Rape as a weapon of war
– Maimouna, 24, describing the abduction and
gang rape of her 16-year-old neighbour in Mali 71
Combatants use rape as a deliberate strategy of warfare,
perpetrated in many cases with the encouragement Sexual violence can have a clear ethnic dimension
or at the behest of commanding officers. The rape of in some cases, with fighters deliberately singling out
children in particular can be used to deliberately and their victims from among an ‘opposing’ ethnic group.
strategically destabilise opposing forces by terrorising Inter-ethnic violence can extend to sexual violence,
and humiliating the men, women and children of the and numerous women are targeted for rape solely
community from which they believe their adversaries because of their ethnicity. The goal is to undermine
originate. Fighters also commit rape to secure control, community bonds, weaken resistance and perpetuate
through fear and intimidation, over the population of the ethnic cleansing by targeting individuals in a particular
territory they want to occupy, with the ultimate aim of ethnic group and using rape as a way to destroy
gaining access to, or maintaining control over, territories unwanted groups of a different ethnicity or religion,
that are rich in natural resources. including through deliberate infection with HIV or
forced impregnation of women.
As with rape against women, rape against children
can be used as a form of reprisal against individuals,
families and communities. The rapists also seek to
attack the fundamental values and social fabric of
Undisciplined security forces
the community, principally through maximising the The very institutions that are supposed to keep
humiliation and debasement of children and witnesses. children safe from violence can sometimes perpetuate
In the DRC, for example, cases feature the rape the problem. In many instances, attacks on the
of mothers and daughters in front of their family, population, including children, are linked to corruption
mass rapes, rapes in public and forcing victims to of the police force, or poor capacity of the national
have sex with family members as ways to attack the army. The army not only fails to fulfil its duty to
fundamental values of the community.69 In Sri Lanka a provide security for the civilian population, but
grandmother described how the army raped both her perpetrates violations against children themselves. The
and her daughter in front of her grandchildren: “The increased presence of national armies, police forces
army made us strip completely in front of the children. and international peacekeeping forces in conflict can
All the women were made to walk around the perpetuate the problem of sexual violence.
soldiers in a circle. The soldiers were laughing at us.
All the women were then raped in front of everyone. As we know from a number of high-profile examples,
My daughter and I were raped in front of her children. international peacekeeping forces have themselves
I was raped in front of my grandchildren.” 70 committed acts of sexual exploitation and abuse
(SEA) during conflicts in, for example, Cambodia, the
In many cultures keeping women ‘chaste’ is seen to be DRC, East Timor, Eritrea, Haiti and Liberia. Despite
important to the honour of families and communities. measures taken within the UN system to address
Girls and women that are sexually assaulted or raped SEA, such as the Secretary-General’s Bulletin, and the
may be perceived to bring dishonour to the family and introduction of training and disciplinary procedures,
can be ostracised. In some cases girls and women can such misconduct within UN missions continues to
even be killed by their own families if their behaviour be challenging.
12
22. Widespread climate of impunity International humanitarian law specifically requires
5 W hy
parties to a conflict to protect women and children
Rape and other forms of sexual violence are from rape and any other form of assault. The
prohibited by most national laws as well as by prohibition of rape and sexual violence during conflict
international human rights law73 and international is actually widely considered to be a principle of
does it
humanitarian law. When committed on a large scale customary international humanitarian law. States
or systematically during conflict, such conduct also have an obligation to ensure that their national laws
amounts to a crime against humanity in addition are compliant with the prohibition and must take
to constituting a war crime. And yet rape and steps to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish
happen ?
other sexual violence are seldom prosecuted, and perpetrators of violations.
perpetrators rarely face any legal or disciplinary
While states have primary responsibility for
consequences for their crimes. As a result, a culture
prosecuting these crimes, international criminal
of impunity is entrenched, encouraging further rapes
law allows alleged perpetrators to be tried in an
and sexual violence, as perpetrators know that they
international court, such as the International Criminal
will not be held accountable.
Court, or at specific ad hoc tribunals (as for Rwanda,
“It’s very difficult. This man is dangerous to others the former Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone), or in a
and linked to armed groups because of his brother. domestic court of a third state invoking universal
He knows that all the neighbours know what has jurisdiction. In practice, however, the number of
happened. The mother herself returned from the prosecutions in such courts is exceedingly low.
hospital and told all the neighbours that the girl [aged
Even where national laws are in line with international
two and a half] had also been raped. But the man
law, customary practice still prevailing in many parts
knows he can be fine. He says hi to all the neighbours
of some states penalises survivors – for example,
and stays there calmly because he knows that nothing
through charges of adultery or homosexuality, when
has ever happened to him. He knows the police won’t
they try to report a sexual attack.
do anything. So much violence happens here and the
police are here every day – morning and afternoon – Evidentiary and procedural barriers to prosecutions
but they never do anything.” for rape and sexual violence can also contribute
– Susana, aged 36, recounting the rape of one of her to the culture of impunity. An extreme example is
neighbours’ children, aged just two and a half, in Colombia74
Sudan, where many judges require that four male
Abuses committed by peacekeepers and humanitarian workers
In 2002, a ground-breaking report by Save the of sexual exploitation and abuse by all UN staff,
Children and UNHCR highlighted the extent the establishment of the Inter-agency Standing
of exploitation and abuse of women and girls Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual
by peacekeepers and humanitarian workers in Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises (as
Sierra Leone and Liberia, where common items of part of the humanitarian reform process), individual
humanitarian aid (ie, food and non-food rations) and inter-agency codes of conduct, investigation
and other items or ‘promises’ were exchanged procedures and trainings. Despite these measures
for sexual favours. In response to this the UN and and some improvement in reducing the scale of the
NGOs started to put in place codes of conduct; problem, the level of exploitation is still worryingly
training of personnel; and reporting, investigation high, as highlighted in the 2008 report No One To
and disciplinary procedures. This has culminated in Turn To.72
the UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin on prevention
13