More than 150 facts of sexual violence against Ukrainians by Russians have already been established by competent national and international bodies. This is the tip of the iceberg of international crimes committed for the tolerance of the aggressor state. Read more in the exclusive blog for the Channel 24 website.Conflict-related sexual violence includes not only rape, forced exposure, sterilization, marriage, pregnancy, abortion, genital mutilation, but also sex trafficking. The above list is not exhaustive, because, as practice shows, the sick fantasy of the aggressors is limitless. dance on a table in front of armed men.
In turn, the Russians, for example, forced Ukrainian women to undress and sit in an uncomfortable position naked for long periods or to have sexual relations with a family member in the presence of the Russian military. Cases of coercion to watch sexual violence against a loved one, which is a separate type of torture, have also been recorded.
Armed conflicts are not gender neutral
About 35% of women worldwide have been victims of conflict-related sexual violence. At the same time, the actual figure can reach 70% due to the unwillingness of the individual to share traumatic experience, fear of stigmatization and other circumstances.
Traditionally, it is women who are considered those who are at the highest risk of sexual violence, but the Russians break all patterns. According to current information provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General and an independent international commission of inquiry into violations in Ukraine, both women and men aged from 4 to 80 years were victims of such actions by the Russian military.
Russians raped and tortured in every region where they installed control. In addition, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the deportation of Ukrainians to Russia has increased the threat of sexual exploitation and similar forms of human trafficking, in particular children.
Attribute “Russian world”
Sexual violence is an integral part of the Russian mentality. Russia does not have specialized legislation to combat gender-based, in particular, sexual violence. Moreover, on January 27, 2017, 380 State Duma deputies voted to decriminalize domestic violence, regardless of its form.
As a result, according to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, 16 million Russian women, one in five women in the country, have experienced domestic violence. The UN estimates that one in ten women killed worldwide due to domestic violence was Russian. These are the “traditional values” of the “Russian world” that Putin defends not only in Russia, but also on the territory of sovereign states.A country that does not respect the rights and freedoms of its own citizens inevitably encroaches on the rights and freedoms of foreigners. Russia went further – by carrying out large-scale and systematic attacks on the civilian population on the territory of other states, in particular, Ukraine. The “deep concern” of the international community regarding the human rights situation in Russia led to the aggressor's resolute spitting on international law and, finally, the devaluation of the latter.
Russia was considered part of Europe even after annexed the territories of other states, refused to comply with binding decisions of international courts, committed a number of international crimes. Representatives of Russia allowed themselves to dictate the agenda in international organizations.
They said: “There is no sexual violence in the state”, just like the USSR did not have sex. But something else turned out to be another propaganda. Now Russia is demonstratively denouncing international treaties, testing the boundaries of what is permitted in a civilized community.
Sexual violence is not a “consequence” of war
Russia uses sexual violence intentionally to terrorize the civilian population. This is her military strategy, which is gradually acquiring signs of genocide against the Ukrainian nation. Instead of stopping the violence and bringing the perpetrators to justice, Putin rewards them with orders and sets them as role models.
Sexual violence against Ukrainians is also encouraged by Russian citizens: the main fear of Russian women is possible sexually transmitted diseases. But it is Russia that sends HIV-infected and hepatitis patients to war, repeating the strategy of extermination implemented during the genocide in Rwanda.
Sexual violence has long been considered an inevitable consequence of armed conflict. Not exactly the norm, but not a sensation either. The international community has moved away from such a concept.
“Sexual violence is a threat to the right of every person to a decent life, as well as to the collective peace and security of mankind”. It's hard to disagree with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Several international crimes at once
Conflict-related sexual violence bears the hallmarks of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Depending on the specific circumstances, an action can be dually qualified. How much time has not passed since the commission of sexual violence, the statute of limitations does not apply. So the offender will be brought to justice even after 10, 20 or 30 years.
The list of competent authorities varies from the national courts of Ukraine and the courts of foreign states according to the principle of universal jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court. The latter, due to limited resources, recognized the proceedings on sexual violence as one of the priorities in the situation of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The Russians guilty of sexual violence in Ukraine are actually already serving their sentences: on the territory of Russia, which is slowly turns into a strict regime colony. After all, a step there, a step here, and there, abroad – bailiffs and a lawsuit.
