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Contributions from
the Column
Media
Rape as a war crime
Lobbying guide
Taking foreign cultures more seriously
Globalisation myths
12/2006 |
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Rape as a war crime
medica mondiale (Ed.):
Violence against women in war.
Handbook for professionals working
with traumatised women.
CD-ROM included.
Mabuse-Verlag, Frankfurt/Main 2005,
357 p., 19.90 Euro, ISBN 3-938304-26-X
Sexualised violence against women is part of every war. The victims are often as numerous as those killed – if not even more numerous. Usually, perpetrators are never punished, and victims never helped. Post-war rehabilitation programmes generally don’t provide for victims’ needs. Only a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have started to address the issue and offer practical help.
One such is the German organisation medica mondiale, the editor of this manual, which provides lessons learned in 11 years of experience and half a dozen countries emerging from war. The English version is adapted from the German manual published in 2004.
The seven chapters address three key issues: legal aspects and awareness building; medical assistance and psycho-social counselling adapted to the needs of rape survivors; and the approach of medica mondiale, working in all these fields, as well as its experience in Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania and Afghanistan.
Gabriela Mischkowski’s article on legal history illustrates the long way from the extended Hague Convention of 1907, which prohibited rape only indirectly, to the establishment of the International Criminal Court which considers rape, forced pregnancy and trafficking as criminal, and provides instruments for international prosecution. The first condemnations for war-related rape were issued by the special tribunal for Rwanda, followed by the rulings of the tribunal for former Yugoslavia. But court proceedings mean stress and risks for the victims who appear before court. They need independent and competent advice and support.
For that to become possible, however, the victims need help to overcome the physical and emotional damage done to them. Monika Hauser, medica mondiale’s founder and management member, explains how to adapt the treatment of rape victims in gynaecological and obstetric practice to the precarious conditions of war-torn, crisis-ridden regions.
Ingeborg Joachim and Karin Griese, two psychologists working for the NGO since its beginnings, offer professional guidelines based on their comprehensive academic studies on post- traumatic stress disorder. Bibliographical notes at the end of each chapter, weblinks for specific countries and issues, and the information on the mandate and modus operandi of the International Criminal Court are useful for in-depth research.
The handbook was written mainly for professionals who work with traumatised women. But it also makes good reading for any-one who does not want to see sexualised violence go unpunished, but wants to see victims helped. The book should be made required reading for all experts involved in planning and implementing post-war rehabilitation.
Eva-Maria Bruchhaus
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