EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN IN CONFLICT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Presentation of findings of a research on ‘Voices of Young People on Sexual Violence and Impunity' carried in Burundi and Uganda triggered incisive discussions among the participants. The research that began in 2005 showed similar outcomes in the two countries where women and girls are used as sex slaves by armed groups and left psychologically traumatized and physically assaulted.

Géraldine, a Burundian Girl Guide and conflict survivor shared experiences of girls and women whose dreams have been shattered and how continued silence on their problems, social exclusion and economic hardships torment them. She recalls, "I used to go to them and tell them that I am an orphan of mother and father and that I have also suffered violence during confict period. They became so open to me and I find that women continue to suffer because they can not open up for fear of continued social exclusion." Participants also shared experiences of victims of conflict rejected by their communities and holding children whose identity remains unknown and are stigmatized as children of violent and atrocious moments. The seminar was an opportunity to dig into the challenges that affect girls and women during and after conflict periods. Issues raised will inform an upcoming book on voices of youth on conflict and peace building to be released later this year by ACORD. Based on the findings of the research, Sandra Ayoo, the ACORD conflict thematic manager, presented that children are sometimes forced to commit atrocities against their families or neighbors. Such practices help ensure that a child is stigmatised and unable to return to his or her home community thus forcing them to remain in rebellion. Many girls soldiers are expected to provide sexual services as well as to fight.

The World Youth Report 2003 showed that an estimate of 2 million youth and children have died and 1.5 million displaced as a result of armed conflict. There is a growing culture of violence that affects the young and old of our societies. According to Marie-Josée Kandanga, manager of the Restoration Peace Project in ACORD Burundi, children as young as eight years were abducted and used as sex slaves or combatants. Loaded with heavy ammunitions and nicknamed Kadogo to mean small child, the children were placed at the front line and told that bullets will not touch them. They were used as combat shields. Young girls and boys carried the same load but girls had the extra burden of being sex slaves and made vulnerable to contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Sexual violence and children born in captivity have become major challenges in effective rehabilitation of victims of conflict in communities. Agnes Samler, the president of Defence for Children International (DCI) said "I believe we are all part of the solution, we can make a change and we have to prepare a future for our children."

Dr. Asha El-karib from ACORD Sudan mentioned that unless gender and sexual violence are conceptualized as economic, political and social issues that increase gender inequality, women will continue suffering. It was emphasized that sexual violence is a war within wars and it exists even in normal times, it just get exacerbated during war.

ACORD has worked with victims of war with a rehabilitation program for psychological support. The response is however not enough for the suffering of girls and women challenges demand a multi-sectoral approach.

The struggle to end sexual violence and impunity is therefore relevant in times when there is no conflict and must be mainstreamed in the cultural fabric of our societies.