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The report “Buenaventura, Colombia; Brutal Realities”shows that in Colombia, the violence disproportionately impacts women, especially those of afro-Colombian descent and that the tactics of the warring factions systematically use sexual violence as a weapon of conflict.
The report, which is released with support from UNHCR, is based on interviews and desk research and can be downloaded here.
The civil conflict in Colombia has spanned five decades and displaced more than 5.7 million people. Despite the fact that the Government and guerilla group FARC are pursuing political dialogue to end the armed conflicto, illegal armed actors are still active and generalized violence continues.
The result of this conflict is that people often are forced to flee their homes as a means to escape the threat of violence or reprisals.
This report found that sexual violence is used as a tool by illegal armed groups to terrorize the population and control territory.
Specifically focussing on Buenaventura, one of the most violent cities in the country, the report found that sexual violence and intimidation are used as a tool by three illegal armed groups battling for territory to terrorize the population and control the territory they seek.
In testimonials gathered in Buenaventura, many cite rape as the most frequent abuse. The perpetrators sometimes enter houses in groups of two to seven men. Women also risk rape and even death if they refuse the advances of a members of an illegal armed group.
"... One night while we slept a member of an illegal armed group," a close friend" of my husband, got armed and raped me, threatened to kill my husband and my children. He returned repeatedly and forced me to be with him, and made death threats against my children…”
While the Colombian government has taken concrete steps to enact legislation to protect women and enable prosecution the reality is that women feel so threatened that very few report crimes for fear of reprisals- either on themselves of their family. At great personal cost, they remain silent, isolated, traumatised.
The resulting psychological impact on the women and the entire community is dramatic. The threat of violence is ever present – inescapable. Victims feel there are few people they can confide to for fear that the information will be used against them. Yet due to the silence the situation remains largely invisible and largely untreated, few institutions are equipped to assist.
“Sexual violence reduced my safety and capacity to socialize with others, I did not speak and became distrustful”, a survivor from Buenaventura says.
Due to the extremely brutal nature of the crimes and the fear that permeates everyday life in Buenaventura, the report finds that grassroots aid efforts are the best placed to offer some solace and assistance to women and their families.
