For decades, sexual violence against women has cast a dark shadow over Africa’s history, particularly in conflict-affected regions. From war zones to displaced communities, women and girls have endured unimaginable suffering, often used as pawns in the cruel game of power and control.
These acts leave lasting scars not just on survivors, but on entire societies struggling to heal. It’s time to confront this reality, amplify voices, and demand change. The conversation starts now.
What You Need to Know
Sexual violence against women in Africa has been a systemic issue deeply rooted in historical injustices, cultural norms, and institutional failures. From the shadows of colonial exploitation to modern-day gender inequalities, this crisis persists across generations, affecting millions of African women and girls.
The Reality in Numbers
The numbers are alarming. A staggering 736 million women worldwide have faced physical or sexual violence, many at the hands of partners they once trusted. In Sub-Saharan Africa, almost 39% of girls are married before the age of 18, and up to 70% to 95% of girls are the victims of genital mutilation and domestic violence.
What Does Sexual Violence Look Like?
Sexual violence takes many harrowing forms: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the forced marriage of girls under 18, and the horrors of Sexual Violence in Conflict (SVC) and humanitarian crises manifesting as rape, kidnapping, sexual slavery, and forced prostitution.
Sexual Violence in Conflict-affected Areas
Sexual violence in conflict-affected areas is often weaponised to destabilise communities, instill fear, and exert control.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo is regarded as the epicentre of GBV, with over a million women survivors and over 65% of victims during the past 15 years being children.
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In South Sudan, sexual violence is frequently used as a weapon of war, with 65% of women and girls in conflict zones reporting experiences of sexual or gender-based violence.
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Sexual violence is also a prevailing condition of insecurity and displacement in Somalia, with over 45% of women and girls in Internally Displaced Camps facing heightened vulnerability.
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In Mali, 18.4% of women aged 15-49 reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence due to the ongoing conflict and instability in the country.
Major African Countries Affected
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South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual violence globally, with an estimated 40% of women experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime.
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Morocco is no exception, with 25% of women reporting domestic violence, while Egypt has over 99.3% of women who have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
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Algeria is also caught in the web, with over 21% of women involved in domestic violence, and 53.5% of women in Tunisia struggling with sexual violence.
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About 14% of women aged 15-49 have experienced sexual violence in Ghana but it has been underreported due to fear.
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Nigeria isn’t left out, holding 10% of the world’s 200 million survivors of Gender-Based violence.
Steps Towards Change
To address the prevalence of Sexual Violence in Africa, Morocco adopted Law 103-13 on the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2018; Nigeria implemented the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) in 2015; Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provided medical and psychological support to survivors in the DRC in 2020.
Are These Policies Truly Effective?
With limited disciplinary action against perpetrators, does the judicial system enable a culture of impunity for sexual violence? Survivors are burdened with feelings of insecurity, isolation, and shame. This demands accelerated action to galvanise all sectors of society to actively participate in efforts towards eradicating the scourge!
