Sexual violence in Syria: a consequence of war
Sexual violence against civilians including women, girls, boys, and men in Syria has increased, as warring parties have resorted to sexual violence as a tool for intimidation.
Detained and divorced women and girls, especially displaced ones, are often subjected to discrimination, violence, sexual exploitation and harassment. It is very common for girls to be forcibly married to military personnel under duress, and later be exposed to marital rape and abuse.
The traditions and norms of the Syrian society have reinforced this type of abuses under the pretext of ‘preserving honor and washing shame’. The discriminatory Syrian laws also added to the pain of sexual violence survivors.
Detained men and vendor boys have also been subjected to sexual violence, which increased after the onset of the war in 2011. Many men have been sexually assaulted in the prisons of the Syrian government and opposition factions.
Gender-based violence has spiked during the war. The deteriorating living conditions in the country, among other things, have made women an easy victim for the sexual exploitation and extortion practiced by extremist groups, as law enforcement and accountability are not present.
In 2022, the Monitoring and Documentation Department at North Press recorded 196 cases of rape against women in Syria, 75 of them in areas controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian opposition factions. As for this year, the department has documented 14 cases.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, and in light of the ongoing war in the country, it is necessary to remind that protecting and supporting Syrian women and children is a duty, and that local and international communities, governments, and international institutions must cooperate to promote justice, provide necessary support for victims, and punish perpetrators. By doing so, people can provide full protection and care for Syrian survivors of sexual violence and thus helping them recover as well as encouraging them to participate in the political and social spheres to build a better future for themselves.