Rape - A form of intentional punishment

Rape – a forced sexual activity carried out by force, or threat of violence. (Merriam-Webster) Rape is an act in which a person is forcibly taken advantage of; their sense of integrity, respect, and self-being is completely destroyed. They are left feeling helpless, used, dirty, and worthless. For some time now, rape can be defined as one of the most degrading, intimidating, and controversial issues facing society. In most cases, women and children are the unfortunate victims of these unfortunate acts due to being seen as weak, help-less, and an easy target.

            Naimark analyzes the way that rape was used a form of power by those in control. In regards to Bosnia, Naimark states, “But in none of the other cases that we have examined has rape appeared to be so central to the purposes of punishing and driving out the ‘other’ as in Bosnia (167). In this case, the women were the victims, primarily Muslim women. These women and girls were ‘punished by the Serb army.

The reasons behind the rapes were to exploit the women in order to demonstrate the power the army held over the Muslims. They wanted to purposely hurt and intimidate them in order to gain even more control over them. “There was a political purpose behind the rapes, multiple rapes, and gang rapes of women – ‘to intimidate, humiliate, and degrade her and others affected by her suffering …to induce families to flee and never come back” (167). As if rape wasn’t bad enough, these women were forced to endure this torture in embarrassing conditions. “Women and girls…gathered together and taken to holding centers – often schools or community sports halls – where they are raped, gang-raped and abused repeatedly” (167). Astonishingly, the most extreme form of torture was to forcibly impregnate the women to give them a reminder of the torture they endured

            On a similar note, an article titled, Syria War: Rape is a Weapon of War also goes into details about how the use of rape within wars has been used as a form of ethnic cleansing. Branching off from ethnic cleansing, rape is also used as a tactic that leads towards genocide. Women and children struggle to escape this form of torture and do not find safety easily. The article also states how even when the women and children are finally escorted to refugee camps, the rape and torture continues there as well. 

            “This form of warfare receives little attention and few resources. Perhaps this is because rape and sexual assault are a form of warfare predominantly affecting women and girls” (Magwaro, Cleopatra). I personally find this issue to be extremely disturbing. These innocent women and children are being to bring pain to the enemy, which is an un-fair truth. Personally, I find this issue to be extremely disturbing – and horrific. Even though this issue continuously is left un-reported, and no actions are taken to prevent such issues – it is important that changes are made. Innocent lives are being affected and lost due to a war, that as civilians, they are not a part of.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/34007/syria-war-rape-is-a-weapon-of-war