Colombia: Women, conflict-related sexual violence and the peace process

 

The magnitude of conflict-related sexual violence against women in Colombia is yet to be fully understood. It is a crime that is massively under-reported. Where it is reported women encounter major obstacles to accessing the justice system including extremely high levels of impunity.

Yet despite these obstacles and at considerable personal cost, Colombian women are speaking out and demanding rights to truth, justice and reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. In speaking out they encounter threats and risks to their physical security and that of their families. These risks extend to the women human rights defenders who support survivors.