Rape reporting in post-conflict Côte d’Ivoire: Accessing justice and ending impunity

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

International organizations are increasingly paying attention to the problem of sexual violence. One outcome of this attention has been the adoption of instruments that call on states to punish perpetrators of rape and end impunity for this crime. The reporting of rape to law enforcement agencies is key to formally holding perpetrators account- able. This article examines the influence of police officers and gen- darmes and of social forces on survivors’ decision to report rape in post-conflict Côte d’Ivoire. It also investigates the challenges that con- front those who choose to seek redress from the state. It argues that the Ivorian conflict contributed to fostering a preference for redress from the state over informal justice mechanisms. On the other hand, the blaming and shaming of rape survivors was pervasive and discouraged them from reporting. Support from friends and relatives increased the likelihood that survivors would report rape but negative social reactions had adverse psychosocial effects on them. The article explores the implications of these findings for ending impunity and for post-conflict gender relations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)414-434
JournalAfrican affairs
Volume116
Issue number464
Early online date13 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2017

Research Groups and Themes

  • Centre for Black Humanities
  • SPAIS Gender Research Centre

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