Genocide and gender violence in Rwanda, 1994

Abstract

This article explores the intersection of genocide and gender-based violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It highlights the media's role in framing the violence as "tribal" and "ethnic," which obscured the political roots of the mass killings. The article examines how language and propaganda were used to dehumanize victims and mobilize perpetrators.

A critical focus is placed on the gendered aspects of the genocide, including the systematic rape of Tutsi women, which was used as a weapon of war. The article details the brutal experiences of women who were subjected to sexual violence, forced into "marriages" with their rapists, and stigmatized by their communities post-genocide. The long-term impact of these atrocities is discussed, including the social and psychological damage endured by survivors and the spread of HIV/AIDS as a consequence of the sexual violence.

This article also critiques the humanitarian response, noting how the international community's focus on refugee crises often masked the ongoing genocide and allowed perpetrators to rebuild power structures. The article calls for a nuanced understanding of the genocide that includes the voices and experiences of women, highlighting the need for justice and reconciliation that addresses both ethnic and gender-based violence.