The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed Israel of “credible information” regarding sexual violence and other violations against detained Palestinians by Israeli forces. This has prompted the potential listing of Israeli forces as abusers in the next report on sexual violence in conflict. Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” asserting that the U.N. should focus on Hamas’s war crimes. Guterres urged Israel to halt the violence, investigate credible allegations, and grant U.N. monitors access.
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Since October 7, Project Dinah at Bar-Ilan University released its findings. The research revealed insights into a specific area of concern that has emerged. The study’s conclusions offer a new perspective on a previously under-explored topic. These findings are the first of their kind since the specified date.
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A comprehensive report, compiled by Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa (OJAH), documents widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in Tigray. The research, based on medical records, health worker surveys, and interviews, reveals systematic attacks including mass rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, and sexual torture, targeting women and children. These atrocities were often intended to destroy the fertility of Tigrayan women. This report concludes that these acts constitute crimes against humanity and calls for international investigation into potential acts of genocide.
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In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, numerous women have been subjected to extreme sexual violence, including the insertion of foreign objects into their reproductive organs. Survivors, like Tseneat, have had objects such as screws, nail clippers, and notes with threatening messages surgically extracted from their bodies. These notes, often written by Eritrean soldiers, explicitly state their intent to make Tigrayan women infertile, aiming to destroy the ethnic group. Despite a ceasefire, sexual violence persists, with limited access to medical care, and justice for these atrocities remains elusive.
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The Dinah Project, an all-women group of Israeli legal and gender experts, asserts in a new report that Hamas employed sexual violence as a deliberate component of its genocidal strategy during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. This conclusion is drawn from evidence including survivor testimonies and accounts from former hostages, detailing instances of attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexualized torture. The report aims to establish a legal framework for prosecuting these crimes, even where direct perpetrator identification is challenging, and comes amid previous findings by a UN mission indicating conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the attacks. The findings reflect a coordinated strategy to terrorize and dehumanize Israeli society.
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Following the death of an eight-year-old rape victim in Bangladesh, widespread protests erupted, demanding swifter justice and legal reforms to protect women and children. The child, raped at her sister’s home, succumbed to her injuries after six days in critical care. Her alleged rapists—her sister’s husband and his family—were arrested. The ensuing outrage included the burning of the alleged crime scene and large-scale demonstrations across the country.
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A new Human Rights Watch report details the horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against nearly 80 women and girls in South Kordofan since September 2023. The abuses, which include gang rape and the use of sex slaves, primarily occurred at an RSF military base and constitute war crimes and potential crimes against humanity. While the RSF denies the accusations, claiming impersonators were responsible, HRW investigators documented the testimonies of numerous survivors, highlighting the widespread and systematic nature of the violence. The lack of accountability and the immense humanitarian crisis only exacerbates the suffering of these victims.
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The 18-month war in Sudan has led to a surge in sexual violence against women, with both sides implicated. This has prompted many women to join the Sudanese Armed Forces, seeking training in self-defense and a sense of security. While the women are primarily being used for propaganda purposes and not combat, they see the training as a way to protect themselves from the widespread violence and harassment they face. This training serves as a vital coping mechanism for women seeking empowerment and a sense of safety in a nation ravaged by war and rampant sexual abuse.
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As I sit here with a heavy heart and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, the news of 26,000 raped women in Texas being forced to give birth since Dobbs weighs heavily on my mind. It’s a staggering number that highlights a deeper issue within our society. The fact that so many women have had to endure such a traumatic experience is beyond comprehension. The pain, the trauma, the fear that these women must have faced is unimaginable.
The statistics speak volumes about the prevalence of rape and sexual violence in our society. It is a harsh reality that only a small percentage of rapists are prosecuted, let alone spend time behind bars.… Continue reading
The recent incident of the rape and murder of a young medic in India has sparked a nationwide movement among physicians, leading to a significant strike across the country. This horrifying tragedy has once again brought to light the deep-rooted issues of sexual violence and misogyny that continue to plague Indian society. The brutal gang rape and murder of the medic, along with other similar incidents that have occurred in quick succession, are a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis that women face in India.
One of the most concerning aspects of the situation is the lack of accountability and justice when it comes to crimes against women in India.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood