Between the Duty to Remember, Make Reparation, and Decolonial Feminism: How Can We Combat Gender-Based Sexual Violence?

Marie Hatem, Maria Clara Ahmarani and Denis Mukwege

Global Journal of Health Science, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 11-24

Abstract: Gender-Based Sexual Violence (GBSV) refers to coercive sexual acts regardless of the victim's relationship with the perpetrator or the setting. Prevalent during armed conflicts, it not only directly harms women but also impacts entire communities. Survivors face physical, mental, and social repercussions, compounded by societal shaming. Rooted in power dynamics influenced by colonization, GBSV perpetuates societal norms and prejudices. Traditional practices like male initiation rites contribute to a culture of male dominance, exacerbating GBSV. Storytelling plays a therapeutic role, but communities may perpetuate stigma, hindering support access. Addressing these obstacles, a holistic healing model, initially implemented at Panzi Foundation, provides avenues for survivors’ reparation and empowerment through medical treatment, psychosocial support, legal services and socioeconomic reintegration. Hence, the role of communities and governments is crucial. The duty to remember and repair presents challenges for states, especially in the context of war. Governments’ memory shaping raises politicization and reconciliation queries. The United Nations recognizes norms of amendment; yet achieving genuine reparation requires addressing root causes and consequences comprehensively. This leads to embrace African solutions, involving drawing from ancestral heritage and transcending colonial borders. Decolonial feminism focuses on demilitarizing society, which entails civil society's active engagement. Postcolonial feminism challenges patriarchal structures and promotes gender equality, addressing intersecting violence. Amidst calls for forgetfulness, commemoration and accountability, a just and faithful memory approach is advocated to conquer peace.

Date: 2025
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