4.3 Rape is used by armed forces groups as a method of warfare, to torture, injure,
degrade, displace, intimidate, punish or simply destroy the fabric of a community.
4.4 Early marriage of children is a form of violence and some of the factors that
underpin the practice are gender inequality, poverty, social exclusion, marginalisation
and insecurity. Poverty is a major factor underlying child marriage. Girls are viewed
as an economic burden and early marriage is perceived as a solution.
5.0 Forms of Violence
5.1 The most extreme cases of VAWG typically involve sexual violence in the form
of rape. Sexual violence should also be understood to encompass forced prostitution,
sexual slavery, forced impregnation, forced termination of pregnancy, forced
sterilization, strip searches, inappropriate medical examinations and forced maternity.
Sexual violence is also now being used as a weapon in armed conflict situations.
5.2 Gender based violence can be perpetrated powerfully through words, causing
emotional and psychological distress. Subtle forms of abuse include denying poor
communities food, education and medical care resulting in high infant and maternal
mortality rates, malnutrition and high levels of illiteracy.
5.3 Other forms of violence include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), domestic
violence, social exclusion and child marriage.
6.0 Negative Impact of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
6.1 Women and girls who are victims of violence often experience life-long emotional
distress, mental health problems and poor reproductive health. Some are at a high risk
of acquiring HIV and end up being long ¡V term users of health services.
6.2 The cost to women, their children, families and communities is a significant
obstacle to reducing poverty, achieving gender equality and equity and ensuring a
peaceful transition for post-conflict societies.
6.3 Victims of sexual violence suffer bodily and mental harm, stigmatisation and in
some cases rejection by their families, friends and communities.
6.4 The practice of child marriage has harmful consequences on children which
include poorer health outcomes, lower level of education, higher risk of violence and
abuse, persistent poverty, missed opportunity for empowerment and complications
related to pregnancy and childbirth. International agreements suggested that child
marriage is a violation of interconnected rights including:⎯ The right to equality on grounds of sex and age;
⎯ The right to marry and establish a family;
⎯ The right to life;
⎯ The right to development; and
⎯ The highest attainable standard of health.
6.5 By violating women, weapon bearers are able to humiliate, and demoralise the
men who could not protect them. Where the integrity of the community and the family
is perceived to be bound in the virtue of women, rape can be used as a deliberate tactic
to destabilise communities and families. A climate of impunity can cause the total
disintegration of a society.