SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DURING ARMED CONFLICTS: RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE AS AN EXAMPLE

Abstract

Background: Sexual violence is a significant issue that violates human rights and is a source of increasing concern for women during international and local armed conflicts. It has widespread impacts on civilian communities and on women in particular, with grave and long-lasting health, psychological, and social impacts. The descriptive analytical method was used to investigate and analyse laws prohibiting sexual assault against women, focusing on the role of international law in addressing these crimes. It was found that multiple international laws are in place to address this violence, but the enforcement of these laws requires work. Methods: The descriptive-analytical method is used to investigate and analyse legal provisions prohibiting sexual violence against women. A set of recommendations is derived for how to limit and avoid the deterioration of such phenomena and to deal with it at legal, social, political, health, and other levels. Results and Conclusions: Due to its consequences, which include physical, psychological, social, and economic complications, sexual assault is regarded as one of the most serious violations of human rights. The scarcity of judicial trials and prosecutions against perpetrators of this violence is considered to be a driving force behind these crimes.