NCJ Number
224416
Date Published
2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses various explanations for why war is associated with rape and other sex crimes that involve not only female victims but also men and boys.
Abstract
Although sexual violence occurs in both peacetime and war, sometimes for the same reasons, rape and sexual violence during war have distinctive behavioral motivations. During war, rape can be viewed as a means to reward the victor; to boost solders’ morale; to promote bonding among fellow combatants; to keep them energized to fight; to feed and express hatred for the enemy; to humiliate enemy men; to terrorize and intimidate a community; to degrade and destroy the social bonds of a community; to torture; and for “ethnic cleansing.” In addition, war gives soldiers permission to violate one of the basic tenets and laws of major religions and civilized society: It is against the law of God and man to kill another human being. When permission is given to break this law during wartime, it is not surprising that other laws that define what is acceptable in civilized society will lose their force as well. Despite the existence of legal instruments needed to prosecute sexual violence during war, the justifications and excuses for rape tend to outweigh the prohibitions. It is likely that such crimes will continue to be committed where wars are being waged. 1 note and 33 references