While Admiring Their Intentions, How Can They Ever Hope To Stamp Out Sexual Violence In War?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/william-hague-and-angelina-jolie-attend-sexual-violence-in-war-summit-in-london-9519047.html

[New Judge]

I wonder what they plan to do after lunch. End global hunger and wipe out all known diseases perhaps?

BTW, I take it the picture in the article of Mr Hague and Ms Jolie was taken at the said "summit" in London. If so, why is she wearing a hooded cape on a warm summer's day in Docklands?

[pixie373]

She is slightly strange, nj :-)

[sandyRoe]

Isn't Docklands in the east of London? Perhaps she's wearing that in deference to the religious feelings of the locals.

[anotheoldgit]

New Judge

/// BTW, I take it the picture in the article of Mr Hague and Ms Jolie was taken at the said "summit" in London. If so, why is she wearing a hooded cape on a warm summer's day in Docklands? ///

So that she can speak on behalf of Muslim women I presume?

All girls together and all that.

[Old_Geezer]

Intentions are definitely honourable. but I can't be the only one to see some kind of irony in implying physical violence, killing/maiming the enemy is fine & dandy, but sexual violence is beyond the Pale. Maybe the aim should be to make war a thing of the past and the rest then follows. No one should be put through the horrors that comes with war.

[andy-hughes]

The short answer is no.

War is about power, and so is rape.

A misconception about rape is that it is about sex. It is not about sex, it is about robbery with violence, a statement of subjugation, which is why it is used systematically in some war situations.

I have to agree with Old_Geezer's point - if you start working on eliminating the larger picture - the concept of war, then its offshoots such as sysetmic brutality of all kinds, will simply follow.

To single out one aspect of the horror of war as being in some way more repugnant than simply killing strangers under orders is attention-seeking and futile in equal measure.

Ms. Jolie should try using her celebrity to educate people into not following other countries blindly into wars on the basis of cosy reltationships, and distancing herself from any politicians of any pursuasion would be a good plce to start.

[youngmafbog]

If anythign it is more likley to fuel the problem. Teh perpetrators, who of course think they will win the war and so wont be caught as they will be abel to hide everything, will simply see this show of horror as an indication rape does force control and humiliation on people.

You will never stop the nutters, no matter what law you pass. They simply wont subscribe to it and so its not worth the paper it is written on.

Stop all wars? Some hope, especially for as long as religion is around.

[anotheoldgit]

Some very good answers, so one is now forced to ask, how is it that most of us know the answer, yet those chosen by us to know the answers do not?

[dave50]

I cant understand any man who takes pleasure in raping a woman, whatever the circumstances.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "Some very good answers, so one is now forced to ask, how is it that most of us know the answer, yet those chosen by us to know the answers do not?"

Since the term 'those chosen by us ...' can only refer to the Foreign Secretary, I would suggest that he, along with Ms. Jolie who does not strike me as a stupid person, knows the answers perfectly well.

It is simply that, in order to enjoy a photo-opportunity highlighting their 'sensitive' sides like this, they have a vested interest in pretending not to know what the answrs are.

Cynical? Moi?

[andy-hughes]

dave50 - "I cant understand any man who takes pleasure in raping a woman, whatever the circumstances."

None of us would I sugggest, it's not the action of a rational mind, and therefore it defies rational logic to explain it.

I can only reiterate my original point - rape is about violent control and subjugation by force, an horrific act carried out in this secanrio in the already horrific surroundings of war - which once again, defies logical explanation.

[Sqad]

"Pillaging and Raping"....have always been the "spoils of war."

I take Andy's view about power and subjugation, but there is another point to be considered.

Death, it's presence or it's perceived imminence, heightens the sexual urge and act and during activities in a theatre of war, these factors may be prominent.

Your last chance...so to speak.

OK it is not that simple i agree, but it is a consideration to be reckoned with..........you lose.....we take your women.

[ladybirder]

This thread does not make very pleasant reading, too much sneering going on in my opinion. Children make up 50% of those raped in war zones and anything WH and AJ can do to bring about change and help these victims and prevent more of the same has to be welcomed. Just because it has always happened doesn't mean it has to carry on. We should be supporting them. Some of the work going on is detailed here if anybody bothered to read it.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/half-the-victims-of-rape-in-conflict-zones-are-children-9516518.html

[andy-hughes]

ladybirder - I for one am not sneering at the concept, merely the potential attitudes behind it - and I think my points are valid.

[andy-hughes]

Sqad - "Death, it's presence or it's perceived imminence, heightens the sexual urge and act and during activities in a theatre of war, these factors may be prominent."

I think your point is a valid one - in the heat of battle, the urge to procreate is naturally stimulated by the imminent potential for death.

But i ithink an aspect of mdern warfare is the systematic rape of wmen and children after battle - in a cold-blooded attempt to subjugate and terrorise the innocent who cannot fight back.

[ladybirder]

But it would seem that the desire isn't to procreate or why rape children other than is suggested to terrify the parents and it's not just rape it's violent rape. "Sexual violence in conflict zones includes extreme physical violence, the use of sticks, bats, bottles, the cutting of genitals, and the sexual torture of victims who are left with horrific injuries. Many die as a result of these attacks."

Anyway, I applaud anyone who tries to do something about it and I wish them every success.

Andy, no, you weren't sneering.

[andy-hughes]

ladybirder - thank you for qualifying, however, I must pick up one point you made - "... and it's not just rape it's violent rape."

I am not aware that there is any other kind - ?

[ladybirder]

What I meant Andy was the use of implements and the cutting of genitals and sexual torture. Perhaps I should have said 'even more violent', because as you say, rape alone is violent without the added extras.
I hope the representatives attending from 140 countries are taking it more seriously than some on here.
And I don't mean you Andy:-)