National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya

Humanitarian Issues of Sexual Violence
1 Introduction
Understanding gender vulnerabilities in conflict situations
• Age and gender are vulnerabilities that predispose women and girls to
exploitation and abuse;
• In early stages of conflict, these vulnerabilities are further increased due to:
• The breakdown of law and order;
• The absence of systems that would respond to distress signals;
• The lack of adequate services that would minimize the effects of sexual
violence.
• In the stabilized phases of conflict, these vulnerabilities are augmented by:
• The continual reproductive roles of women and girls such as fetching
firewood and/or water in unsecure areas which predispose them to the
dangers of being sexually violated;
• The possible abuse of power by the security and humanitarian workers
who demand sexual favours in return of goods and services.
• Harmful cultural practices are exacerbated - e.g. – forceful early marriage
of the girls in order to meet the lack of resources in the family.
During armed conflict, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to all forms of sexual
violence 6 . Vulnerability to exploitation and abuse by virtue of their age and gender is
further increased by conflict and the prevailing humanitarian and security conditions.
This chapter highlights the vulnerability factors to sexual violence in conflict situations.
The chapter further highlights kinds of interventions to be undertaken during crisis
situations including the types of services required in addressing the needs of sexual
violence survivors in such situations.
2. Multi-Causal Nature of Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Crisis
Today’s armed conflicts mostly occur within state borders and typically drag on for years,
even decades. Multi-causal in nature, these crises are typically “highly politicized”
and “frequently associated with non-conventional warfare”. <strong>National</strong> accountability
mechanisms are characteristically absent or severely weakened 7 , which consequently
gives rise to a climate of impunity for perpetrating all sorts of crimes. These conflicts
tend to affect the civilian sphere, regardless of growing international emphasis on the
protection of civilians in conflict situations.
6 Derived from the GBV Sub-cluster Strategy and Action Plan developed in March 6, 2008
7 Development Assistance Committee. Guidance for Evaluating Humanitarian Assistance in Complex Emergencies.
1996. http://www.the-ecentre.net/resources/e_library/doc/OECD.pdf#search=%22complex%20emergencies%22
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