Sexual violence further violates victims’ human rights. It can take place either in private or public and affects not just the victims, but also their community.
Sexual violence perpetrators treat victims as mere objects they can use to gratify their sexual desires. They do this without regard for the victims’ personal body autonomy and what may eventually happen to their bodies or even the perpetrator’s own.
Rape, or sexual violence in general, is one of the worst ways human dignity and related rights such as integrity and security of an individual are violated.
Governments worldwide have failed to fulfill their role to protect girls and women from sexual violence and related atrocities. They’ve failed to make the criminal justice systems in their countries accessible and victim-friendly.
The governments worldwide have also failed to prosecute criminals and punish them for human rights violations. They’ve not succeeded in addressing sex discriminatory policies and laws that reinforce attitudes and social norms, including sex discrimination acts.