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Sexual violence against children is a grave violation
Radhika Coomaraswamy
Children, much more than adults, are vulnerable to rape and other forms of sexual violence, whether it's in the home, at school or in the midst of conflict. Jocelyne Sambira reports.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, has met with children who've been sexually abused in different conflict zones.
COOMARASWAMY: There is nothing more terrifying than the rape of children. It strikes fear and horror in the hearts of people. That is achieving the objective of Machiavellian planners. There is also a belief among some fighters that these sorts of actions harden guerillas and make them better fighters; a notion of war and masculinity that challenges the very premise of international norms and standards.
NARR: At a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, participants looked at the root causes of sexual violence in setting like the homes, schools, care and justice systems and the larger community. Coomaraswamy, whose focus is on children in armed conflict, pointed out that sexual attacks against women and girls are used to humiliate and demoralize an opponent, a communication to the other side that they cannot protect their families.
COOMARASWAMY: This often fuels retaliation leading to cycles of horrendous violence. But individual soldiers or civilians, believing that they will never be punished, accepting that there is no functioning system of law, take matters into their own hand and commit sexual violence on women and children.
NARR: It's not only war that places children in danger of sexual abuse. Children are vulnerable when they join those migrating to escape poverty, conflict, natural disasters and even climate change. Children often unwittingly trust the smugglers or traffickers helping them to escape, people who end up abusing them. But, says says Lena Karlsson, Director of Save of the Children, that is only the beginning.
KARLSSON: Girls who migrate to South Africa have reported to Save the Children that they were forced to have sex with guides, border guards and taxi drivers. Children are also vulnerable at destination, especially those who are without their family and community network.
NARR: Manfred Novak, Special Rapporteur on Torture says more than a million children are in jails around the world, and that number is rising, offering another opportunity for abuse.
NOVAK: Rather than receiving deferential treatment, children in detention are at a higher risk of abuse and ill treatment. Children are not only more likely to be subjected to corporal punishment and abuse from police or correctional officers, but they are many times subjected to abuse from their fellow detainees.
NARR: Children who are put in the same cells as adults are particularly at risk. Mafred Novak:
NOVAK : Girls are placed at a higher risk if supervised by male staff, which is often the case. Inhuman and degrading conditions of detention, including severe overcrowding, are a third condition, which can perpetuate a cycle of violence, and make children more vulnerable to different types of abuse.
NARR: Of course, sexual violence affects the physical and emotional health of children, says Marta Santos Pais, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children.
PAIS : Sexual violence leads to depression, to post traumatic stress disorder, it is associated with sleeping difficulties, aggressive behavior, with increased risks of sexual and reproductive health problems, sexually transmitted diseases and creates high risk of exposure to HIV infection.
NARR: The panel recommended that this very serious violation of the human rights of children needs to be documented in order to prevent it and punish those found guilty of the abuse, says Marta Santos Pais.
PAIS : What is appalling is the fact that surveying this phenomenon is incredibly difficult. Available data is scanty and fragmented. National studies are scarce. And reporting is incredibly weak and difficult for children.
NARR: A start is for communities to create avenues for children to complain if they are abused, and to make the issue a priority on the international agenda. Jocelyne Sambira, for UN Radio.
Duration: 4'09"
