Sexual violence in armed conflict is one of the most devastating forms of violence, with catastrophic consequences for individuals, communities and society as a whole. Its effects are comprehensive and long-lasting. It damages the physical, psychological, mental and social well-being of survivors.
The physical harm caused by conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) can include genital injuries, illness, sexually transmitted infections, disability, infertility, and sexual dysfunction. It is important to note that genital trauma can sometimes even lead to death.
What makes it difficult to overcome the consequences of CRSV?
- In times of war, access to adequate medical care is often limited or unavailable, exacerbating the severity of the consequences. Most survivors of sexual violence require immediate surgery or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
- Failure to seek help in a timely manner due to shame, fear of rejection and condemnation from society.
- A certain number of survivors do not associate symptoms with sexual violence. For example, abdominal pain can be a psychosomatic manifestation of psychological trauma.
- Developing traumatic consequences: chronic pain, inability to control the passage of fluids, rejection from the community, avoidance of social contacts, inability to work and provide for their own needs.
- Loss of value due to cultural beliefs. Infertility can put women in a particularly vulnerable position, as women's reproductive capacities are placed at the centre and seen as a core female value.
Psychological and mental health effects.
Psychological wounds can take the form of acute stress disorders, depression, helplessness, anxiety, fear, despair, shame, guilt, self-blame and low self-esteem, emotional distancing, suicidal thoughts, and a tendency to engage in health-threatening behaviours, including substance abuse.
The social consequences of CRSV are also striking - survivors often experience isolation and alienation from their families and communities. Unwanted pregnancies and children born of rape can lead to further stigmatisation by others. These consequences are particularly acute for children, who may be survivors of violence, forced witnesses or suffer the consequences of parental trauma, for example, when a mother stops caring for her children and becomes depressed and estranged from her family.
It is important to recognise that survivors of such horrific events in Ukraine are often reluctant to share their traumatic experiences due to feelings of shame, guilt and fear of re-traumatisation. Therefore, creating a safe, non-judgemental environment and raising awareness of the impact of CRSV is critical. There is a glimmer of hope in the fact that Ukrainians are ready to help directly, including learning how to communicate with survivors of CRSV in a way that does not harm.
To overcome such large-scale challenges, a comprehensive approach to survivor assistance and an understanding of the interconnectedness of the needs of survivors is needed.
Key components of a comprehensive approach to addressing the consequences of CRSV:
Medical care is a priority for many survivors of CRSV. This may include emergency surgery, treatment of physical injuries and sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to note that survivors may conceal symptoms due to shame or report complaints that are not seemingly related to violence. For example, abdominal pain may be a manifestation of psychological trauma.
Psychological support includes psychotherapy, which is an in-depth and structured process; psychological and social support, which is a more flexible process focused on the specific needs of survivors. Psychological support can be provided individually and in groups. Individual support allows to develop a personalised recovery plan, while group work provides an opportunity to interact with others who have gone through similar experiences. This helps to overcome feelings of isolation and unfair treatment, and restriction of rights and opportunities.
Legal aid – legal procedures can contribute to mental healing. They can be both a safe and productive mechanism for expressing anger and anxiety, helping to overcome survivor status. In addition, legal mechanisms can provide compensation. Punishing perpetrators helps to restore a sense of justice and security.
Social and economic reintegration – measures that help survivors regain independence and return to normal life in society. Support can be in the form of grants, vocational training (retraining), employment.
Effective overcoming the consequences of CRSV requires coordinated efforts of medical professionals, psychologists, lawyers and social services.
Important to remember: Meeting psychological needs will help you feel mentally strong. In this case, it is easier for patients to decide to undergo a complex operation, and after that, the body will heal. Moreover, for complete psychological healing, basic needs – how to live, financial security – must be met. Seeking justice, filing police reports and testifying in court are often painful processes. A strong support network is needed to make them easier to go through.
