Sexual violence, a strategy of war and paramilitary dispossession

El Espectador reveals the most important findings of the chapter of the final report of the Truth Commission on paramilitary violence suffered by women

The armed conflict in Colombia violently reconfigured the territories and affected the lives of women and girls in all areas of their lives: their relationship with their bodies, health, motherhood, family and partner relationships, their social role and politician, their work and work, their leadership. This was evidenced by the 10,844 women who entrusted their testimonies about the armed conflict to the Commission.

Sexual violence, for example, was a form of control, punishment, slavery, an incentive and a reward for men, on all sides, who risked their lives in combat. In addition to the documentary sources they accessed, the Commission heard 1,154 testimonies from people who were victims of sexual violence, among whom 89.5% of the victims were women and 10.5% men. This type of violence was the fourth victimization most reported by them. Most indicated that sexual violence occurred in rural areas. Girls and young women (between 12 and 28 years old) were the most affected.