Rape as a Tool of Power and Control: A Devastating History Lesson

Mass sexual violence remains one of the most devastating and inhumane crimes perpetrated against individuals and societies. Such atrocities, often occurring during periods of conflict, systemic abuse, or orchestrated violence, are used as weapons of power, control, and terror. 

Mass Sexual Violence

It is crucial to thoroughly examine key instances of mass sexual violence to understand the devastating scope and impact of these atrocities. This involves analyzing the specific conditions and societal factors—such as political instability, systemic misogyny, armed conflict, and failures of governance—that enable such crimes to occur on a large scale. Equally important is recognizing the profound and long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological impact on survivors, as well as the ripple effects these events have on families, communities, and societies.

Addressing mass sexual violence also requires a commitment to justice, which involves prosecuting perpetrators, supporting survivors in their journey toward healing, and advocating for reparations and accountability. Finally, the ongoing fight for prevention demands a focus on systemic change, including strengthening legal frameworks, promoting education and gender equality, and fostering global cooperation to ensure these crimes are not only addressed but also actively prevented in the future. This holistic approach is essential to breaking cycles of violence and creating a safer, more equitable world.

Recent Case of Dominique and Gisele Pelicot Brings Sexual Violence To The Fore

While the world has seen some progress in addressing gender-based violence, organized instances of sexual violence continue to emerge. Cases such as Dominique Pelicot’s orchestration of sexual assault against his wife, Gisele, serve as grim reminders of this reality. We are deeply grateful for Gisele’s bravery in her decision to publicly face the accused perpetrators.

Key Historical and Modern Cases

Here are examples of this horrific crime.

1. Dominique Pelicot Case

The Dominique Pelicot case centers on a French man who, over nearly a decade, drugged his wife, Gisèle, rendering her unconscious, and facilitated her rape by numerous men. Unbeknownst to Gisèle, these assaults were meticulously documented by Dominique, who invited strangers to participate in the attacks. The abuse came to light in 2020 when Dominique was arrested for unrelated offenses, leading to the discovery of over 20,000 images and videos of the assaults on his electronic devices.

In September 2024, Dominique, along with 50 other men, stood trial in Avignon, France, facing charges of aggravated rape and other sexual offenses. Gisèle, demonstrating remarkable courage, waived her right to anonymity to raise awareness about drug-facilitated sexual assault and advocate for victims’ rights. The trial has garnered significant media attention, highlighting issues of consent, systemic misogyny, and the complexities of prosecuting such crimes. Prosecutors have sought a 20-year prison sentence for Dominique, the maximum penalty for rape under French law, underscoring the severity of his actions.

Ultimately, Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of all charges – aggravated rape, among other charges – and sentenced to 20 years in jail. Of the 50 co-defendants, 46 were found guilty of rape, two guilty of attempted rape, and two guilty of sexual assault. Their jail terms were set at between three and 15 years, less than what prosecutors sought.

2. Systematic Assaults During the Rwandan Genocide

In the span of just one hundred days during 1994, Rwanda was devastated by a genocide that also served as a grim stage for the widespread, calculated use of sexual violence as a weapon of war—particularly against Tutsi women. Tens of thousands were raped in coordinated attacks specifically designed to terrorize communities, destroy families, and undermine societal structures. Survivors’ harrowing accounts describe forced impregnation, deliberate infection with HIV, and the relentless brutality they endured. These atrocities were not isolated acts of cruelty; rather, they formed a deliberate strategy to inflict long-term physical, emotional, and cultural devastation. Ultimately, the Rwandan genocide underscored how mass sexual violence can be systematically wielded as a powerful tool of terror and subjugation.

3. The Bosnian War (1992-1995)

During the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mass rape emerged as a systematic tactic of warfare, ultimately recognized as a grave war crime. Women—predominantly Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) women—were imprisoned in detention camps, where soldiers subjected them to repeated sexual assaults under brutal conditions. This strategy aimed to instill terror, sow ethnic division, and destabilize families and communities.

Extensive investigations by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and other judicial bodies exposed these atrocities, leading to groundbreaking prosecutions that classified mass sexual violence as a crime against humanity. The ensuing trials not only held perpetrators accountable but also established critical legal precedents, confirming that rape can be wielded as an instrument of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and terror. (see more info below)

4. The #BringBackOurGirls Incident

In 2014, Boko Haram militants abducted nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria, as part of their extremist campaign. Many of the girls were subjected to sexual violence, forced marriages, and exploitation. This tragedy brought global attention to how extremist groups target women and girls, using them as tools to instill fear and control.

5. Sexual Violence in Modern Human Trafficking Rings

In cases similar to Dominique Pelicot’s orchestrations, human trafficking networks across the globe engage in systemic sexual exploitation. Traffickers often manipulate, abduct, or coerce victims into environments where mass sexual violence occurs as a routine tool for control and profit. These hidden crimes impact millions, with survivors often left voiceless and without access to justice.

Causes and Contributing Factors

Mass sexual violence is often facilitated by specific conditions that allow perpetrators to act with impunity. Some common factors include:

• Conflict and War: In times of war, chaos and weakened legal systems enable organized violence. Rape is often used as a strategy to humiliate, demoralize, and destroy targeted groups.
• Systemic Inequality: Societies with entrenched gender inequality or oppressive patriarchal norms often fail to protect women and vulnerable populations from violence.
• Lack of Accountability: In many cases, weak judicial systems allow perpetrators to avoid prosecution. This culture of impunity encourages further violence.
• Organized Criminal Networks: Trafficking rings and other organized groups exploit women and children systematically, using violence as a tool of subjugation and control.
• Cultural Silence and Stigma: Survivors of sexual violence often face societal shame, preventing them from speaking out or seeking justice. This silence allows the cycle of abuse to continue.

Impact on Survivors and Society

The consequences of mass sexual violence are profound and far-reaching, affecting survivors physically, emotionally, and socially.

• Physical and Health Effects: Survivors often suffer from injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancies. In some cases, survivors are deliberately harmed to prolong their suffering, such as through HIV infection during the Rwandan genocide.
• Psychological Trauma: The emotional toll of sexual violence can lead to PTSD, depression, anxiety, and long-term mental health struggles.
• Economic and Social Displacement: Survivors may face ostracization, particularly in communities where stigma surrounds sexual assault. Women may be abandoned by families, denied opportunities, or forced into poverty.
• Generational Impact: Children born of rape during conflicts often face discrimination and identity struggles, perpetuating cycles of trauma.

The Pursuit of Justice and Accountability

Holding perpetrators accountable for mass sexual violence remains a critical but challenging goal. International bodies and grassroots movements have made significant strides, but obstacles persist.

Legal Progress & Precedence Setting

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) set precedents by prosecuting rape as a war crime and crime against humanity.

After the war in Bosnia extensive investigations by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and other judicial bodies exposed these atrocities, leading to groundbreaking prosecutions that classified mass sexual violence as a crime against humanity. The ensuing trials not only held perpetrators accountable but also established critical legal precedents, confirming that rape can be wielded as an instrument of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and terror.

Why It Was Groundbreaking

• First Time in an International Tribunal: While earlier international instruments had condemned sexual violence, the Foča judgments were among the first to explicitly convict individuals of rape and sexual enslavement as crimes against humanity before an international court.
• Set Legal Precedents: These cases expanded international criminal law by clarifying that sexual violence, when conducted systematically, is not merely an individual crime but can be part of a broader pattern of persecution and ethnic cleansing.

Additional Sources

• Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Article 7: Enumerates rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, and other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity if part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population.
• The International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to investigate and prosecute sexual violence in conflicts, including in regions like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Survivor Advocacy and Support

Organizations worldwide work tirelessly to support survivors, including providing counseling, legal aid, and healthcare. Groups like Doctors Without Borders and UN Women play vital roles in offering immediate relief and long-term support.

Grassroots Movements

Movements such as #MeToo have amplified survivor voices globally, demanding accountability and systemic change. Activists continue to challenge cultures of silence and impunity that allow sexual violence to persist.

Prevention and Future Steps

To prevent mass sexual violence, governments, organizations, and communities must address root causes and create stronger systems of accountability and protection. Some essential steps include:

• Strengthening Legal Systems: Nations must enforce stringent laws against sexual violence, ensuring perpetrators are swiftly prosecuted.
• Educating Communities: Education on gender equality and consent is critical to challenging harmful cultural norms.
• Empowering Survivors: Providing survivors with access to legal aid, healthcare, and support systems can help them rebuild their lives.
• Monitoring and Accountability: International watchdogs must monitor regions where systemic violence occurs, intervening early to prevent escalation.
• Supporting Women’s Rights Organizations: Local women’s groups often have the knowledge and tools to address violence effectively within their communities.

Learn, Don’t Forget & Make Changes

Mass sexual violence, as seen in cases like Dominique Pelicot’s orchestration, the Rwandan genocide, and the Bosnian War, reflects humanity’s darkest failures. Such crimes devastate survivors and communities, leaving long-term scars on society. However, the pursuit of justice, survivor advocacy, and systemic prevention offer pathways to a future where such violence is no longer tolerated. 

By amplifying survivor voices, holding perpetrators accountable, and addressing underlying inequalities, the global community can move closer to eradicating mass sexual violence once and for all.

Do Your Part – Speak Their Names

Raising awareness of these crimes is crucial. It is not enough to acknowledge their existence—societies must commit to supporting survivors, challenging impunity, and building a world where no one fears such horrors.

Resources for Women and LGBTQ+ People in Uncertain Times

What will 2025 look like? What will the next four years entail? We have been shown Project 2025, and yet, the majority of Americans have demonstrated that they do not believe it will come to fruition, or they support its values. 

All Americans are about to experience a new world, and women and LGBTQ+ people are going to be living at risk.

Here is a list of resources. Some have phone lines, others have online support, and some have both. All are there for YOU. We will be updating this resource listing over time. Visit www.thequeenzone.com for updates. If you have a suggested resource please email that information to contact@thequeenzone.com and put RESOURCE in the subject line.

READ: Resources for Women and LGBTQ+ People in Uncertain Times

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