Feminists have long been sounding the alarm on the use of rape as a weapon of war—and firsthand accounts of what happened in Israel on Oct. 7 are spurring an urgent conversation once again, reminding us that the battle to secure justice for the victims of rape through war crimes prosecutions continues to this day. Below, we’ve curated some Ms. reporting from the last decade, to help readers better understand the feminist fight to designate rape as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Tag: Rape in Conflict
Poland’s Near-Total Abortion Ban Threatens Ukrainian Refugees
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, more than 3.5 million Ukrainian refugees have entered Poland. Coupled with the strict abortion laws in Poland and the overall circumstances surrounding the refugee crisis, hundreds of women and other pregnant individuals are now forced to carry their pregnancies to term.
Amid the Russian Invasion, Ukraine Stands up for Gender Equality
In the midst of a bloody war with an invading Russian military, the Ukrainian government took the time to ratify an international treaty to protect women and girls from violence. What does this historic act mean for the future of the Istanbul Convention?
Survivors of Rape in War Shouldn’t Be Denied the Care They Need
The recent fight by U.S. officials to water down a UN resolution on conflict-related sexual violence was both an insult and an injury to survivors of rape in war.
Ending Impunity for Gender-Based Violence in Genocide
Centering gender in the pursuit of justice for the Rohingya sends a strong message that the days of impunity for sexual violence are numbered.
Ending Sexual Violence Should Be a Global Priority
The work to change our responses to sexual violence—in conflict and at home—is the work that many of us have dedicated our lives to, and you can be sure that we will press on. I wish I could say the same for our country.
The UN Just Watered-Down Women’s Rights Worldwide—and the U.S. Insisted on It
The latest battle over words at the UN drew global attention to the Trump administration’s attempts to wrestle full control over women’s bodies and minds—in the U.S. and across the world.
No Compromises on Women’s Rights
The UN Security Council just adopted its 9th resolution on Women, Peace, and Security. The resolution was intended to address the needs of victims of sexual violence in conflict—but thanks to the Trump administration, the ideology of few were put above the lives of thousands of women and girls.
Women’s Bodies Shouldn’t Be Battlefields
Is the Trump Administration’s official position that women and girls who have suffered sexual violence do not deserve medical help?
When Reporting on Rape Stands in the Way of Justice
Uncoordinated and overzealous documentation of the horrific violence Rohingya women have suffered harms both accountability efforts and the well-being of survivors.