“If You Are Born a Girl in This Crisis, You Are Born a Problem”: Patterns and Drivers of Violence Against Women and Girls in Conflict-Affected South Sudan

Abstract

This article presents the results of a qualitative study on the context and different forms of violence committed against women and girls in South Sudan. The study documents many forms of sexual and physical violence against women and girls in South Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence, intimate partner violence, nonpartner sexual violence, child and forced marriage, and abduction. Violence occurred during three overarching contexts: armed conflict, gender inequality, and the economic crisis. The custom of bride price, combined with the economic crisis, is a key driver of many other forms of violence.

Socioecological Framework for Drivers of Conflict and Postconflict Violence Against Women and Girls

“…Feminist researchers posit that the root causes of VAWG, in both conflict and nonconflict settings, are unequal gender dynamics and patriarchal norms and practices that discriminate against women and girls. Research in nonconflict affected settings has demonstrated this connection between gender inequality and rates of IPV (Heise & Kotsadam, 2015), and some researchers have suggested these inequalities may contribute to increases in the utilization of conflict-related sexual violence as a facet of warfare (Coulter, 2009; Ellsberg et al, 2021; Olujic, 1998). However, the exact connection between gender inequality and conflict-related sexual violence is unclear, and cross-national analysis did not find gender inequality to be associated with higher rates of wartime rape (Cohen, 2013).…”

“…In conflict-affected settings, weak states may experience more sexual violence by rebel groups during civil wars (Cohen, 2013). These weak or failing states are often unable to fulfill their roles as purveyors of justice, enabling multiple forms of CRVAWG (Ellsberg et al, 2021; Goetze, 2008). Informal institutions, customary justice processes, or traditional and religious leadership structures may step in where formal state structures fail.…”

“…and has effects beyond the battlefield. After the cessation of hostilities, CRVAWG may continue due to the normalization of violence in postconflict settings (and associated impunity, lack of rule of law, and increase in weapons) that may continue to affect rates of IPV and nonpartner assault (Cockburn, 2004; Dolan, 2010; Ellsberg et al, 2021; Guruge et al, 2017; Niner, 2011).…”

“…Armed conflict introduces new risk factors for VAWG with women and girls directly targeted during intra- or intercommunal violence as a mechanism to bring shame, “feminize,” or otherwise attack rival groups. Their targeting may be part of a cycle of revenge killings/rape where the cycle of violence continues as retribution for previous violent acts (El-Bushra & Sahl, 2005; Ellsberg et al, 2021). In addition, women and girls may be subject to opportunistic sexual violence during a crime, raid, or intercommunal attack (or as a result of the breakdown of rule of law and associated increased impunity), even if they are not explicitly the target (Ellsberg et al, 2021).…”

Patriarchy, political enmity, and domestic violence: Exploring abusive mixed intimate partnerships in a conflict zone

“…Research has also documented the impact of political conflict on the level of DV/IPV in the majority and/or minority populations (Doyle and McWilliams, 2020), noting the risk of community violence toward women and their children in mixed relationships during flare-ups of inter-group conflict (Ellsberg et al, 2021; Hartley, 2010). Prior studies have also identified unique DV/IPV risk factors associated with political conflict and documented how exposure to conflict affects or magnifies risk factors (e.g.…”