“Your Womb is Our Enemy!” The Rape of Tigray as Genocidal Rape.
Main Article Content
Keywords
Tigray Genocide, Reproductive Violence, Genocidal Rape, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Amhara
Abstract
War crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were committed in the war in Tigray. This article focuses on the use of sexual violence as an instrument of war. It narrates the scale, nature, and intentions of the sexual violence perpetrated on Tigrayan women, girls, men and boys. It showcases the extreme cruelty, dehumanization and intent to sterilize and inflict maximum damage from stories of victims and witnesses. It compares them with the rape crimes committed in other cases and concludes the nature of the crime was genocidal.
Article Metrics Graph
References
AA/FGD5. General informat. (2021, May 28). Public Rape, Spialge and Humilation. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Addis Getachew and Seleshi Tessema. (2018, April 18). ‘Ethiopia: New PM Receives Rapturous Welcome in Tigray’. (Anadolu Agency) Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://www.aa.com.
AG/1. FGD Participant. (2021, May 10). Public Rape, Spilage and Humilation. Interviewer-Teodros S.
Aidi, H. (August 2021). The Tigray War and the African Union. Policy Brief. PB-28/21. Rabat: Policy Center for the New South.
Amnesty International. (2021). “I do not know if they realized I was a Person”: Rape and other sexual Violence in the conflict in Tigray. London : Amnesty International Ltd. Peter Benenson House.
Askin, K. ( 2006). Prosecuting Gender Crimes Committed in Darfur: Holding Leaders Accountable for Sexual Violence. pp. 141-162. In S. T. Markusen, Genocide in Darfur: Investigating the Atrocities in the Sudan. New York: Routledge.
Atakilt, E. (2020, May ). Abiy is a demagogue. The Politics of Abiy Ahmed. Tigray Mass Media Agency. Tigray TV , Mekelle.
Borda, A. Z. (2022). Putting Reproductive Violence on the Agenda: A Case Studyof the Yazidis. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2100594.
Burtea, B. (2015). Traditional Medicine and Magic According to Some Ethiopian Manuscripts From European Collections . (18). https://doi.org/10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.924
Chernetsov, S. (ND). Ethiopian Magic Texts. (2). https://doi.org/10.1163/18177565-90000007
CNN. (2021, March 22). ‘Practically This Has Been a Genocide’. Retrieved May 13 May 2023, 2023, from CNN.
Danial, K. (24, January). An official video shared on Danial Kibret’s twitter Account . (2022) Retrieved February 2, 2022
Di Caro, C. B. (2005). Call It What It Is: Genocide through Male Rape And Sexual Violence In The Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. 30(55).
Docker, J. (2008). The Origins of Violence: Religion, History and Genocide . London: Pluto Press.
Dr H.Y. (2021, February ). The Confession of POW in Mekelle POW Camp . Muauz Gidey .
DT/Ay/FGD3. (2021, May 25). Rape and Violation. Intervewer-Gebreslassie.
DT/Ay/FGD3. General informants. (2021, May 25). Pubic Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Interviewer Gebreslassie.
Dyan Mazurana. Hayelom K. Mekonen, Bridget Conley, Alex de Waal, and Delia Burns. (2021, August 10). What ‘Rape as a Weapon of War’ in Tigray Really Means.The Fletcher School comment policy. Retrieved 07 05, 2023, from http://www.fletcherforum.org/comment-policy.
EBC. (2021). Abiy Ahmed’s Speech iun Parliament about the war in Tigray . EBC.
ENDF-Report. (2021). Video footage of ENDF’s Evaluation Report of The Military Defeat in Tigray . Tigray Tv . Tigray Mass Media Agency Archive, Mekelle.
Ezega-Staff Reporter. “The EPRDF Officially Ends; The Prosperity Party Begins”. (2019 , December 26). (Ezega) Retrieved August 14, 2020, from http://www.ezega.com .
FGD-Shiraro localities. ( 2021, May). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs FGD-Shiraro tabias: Seder, Mussie, Alganesh, and Hayelom. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector .
FGD-Shiraro localities. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs FGD-Shiraro tabias: Seder, Mussie, Alganesh, and Hayelom. Interviewer-[interv.] TIPS Data Collector.
FGD-Women CSOs. ( 2023, July 3). The Role of Women in Peace Process and Transitional Justice. Interviewer-Muauz Gidey.
Flint, J., & de Waal, A. (2005). Darfur: A Short History of a Long War. London: Zed. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195181630.003.0003
Genet-TWDA. (2023, July 4). Rape, tourture and killing of disabled women. Key informant interview . interviewer-Muauz Gidey.
Getachew, R. (2023, July ). Rape and Deliberate Tramsmission of HIV/AIDs by Eritrean army. Interview with Tigray TV . Tigray Mass Media Agency . Tigray TV Studio, Mekelle.
H/Wejerat-Adi-Qaih-GI-1. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Inerview with Community Members . Interviewer-Abriha Tesfay.
Harry Verhoeven & Michael Woldemariam. (June 2022). Who lost Ethiopia? The unmaking of an African anchor state and US Foreign Policy . Contemporary Security Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2022.2091580
Hernández, A. (2017). “The Ajamization of Islam in Ethiopia through esoteric textual manifestations in two collections of Ethiopian Arabic manuscripts”. 1-2(8). https://doi.org/10.1163/21540993-00801004
Human Rights Watch. (2022). “We Will Erase You From This Land”: Crime Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray Zone. USA: Human Rights Watch.
Humera Rape Victim. (2021, March 10). Surviving Rape and killing. interview . interviewer-Liwam H. .
ICC. (2013.). Elemnts of Crime. The Hague: ICC.
ICTR. (Nov. 8, 1994). International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. I.L.M.
ICTY. ( May 25, 1993.). International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. I.L.M.
IDPS Shire -University Center. (2021, May). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDS. IDPs FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector. Shire Town .
IDPs Shire -University Center. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Interview with IDPs. Interviewer-TIPS data collector.
IDPs-Shire-FGD13. (2021, May 21). Rape and Sexual Eslavement of Tigray Girls and Women. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collectors.
Jorgensen, C. M. (2016). A Case Study Analysis of Dehumanization in Rwanda and Darfur. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University: Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies.
KoT/Gur/FGD1. (2021, May 10). General informant of War damage . Community FGD. Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Letay, H. (2021., January 23). Rape and Tortourting the womb . Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Malara, D. M. (2020). Sympathy for the Devil: secrecy, magic and transgression among Ethiopian Orthodox . Glasgow: University of Glasgow. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2019.1707255
Marlowe, J., Bain, A., & Shapiro, A. . (2006). New York: Nation Books.
Martin Plaut and Sarah Vaughan (eds.). (2023). Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
Mekelle FGD. (2021, April 14). Public Rape, Spialge and Humilation. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Monalisa. (2021, February ). Surving Rape, Torture and Execution . Rape as weapon of Genocide . Tigray Mass Media Agency . Tigray TV, Mekelle .
N/MD/2. (2021, May 26). Victimization. Interview with victims . Interviewer-Teodros S. .
N/MD/3. (2021, May 26). Victimization . Interview with victims . Interviewer-Teodros S.
Plaut, M. (2023). Eritrea, The Horn and The Path To War. In M. P. (eds.), Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
RA/Me/KI4. (2021, April 30). Victim of The Tigray War. Interviewer Gebreslassie.
RA/Me/KI5. ( 2020, April 28). Victim of war. Key INformant Interview . Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Reid-Cunningham, A. R. (December 2008). Rape as a Weapon of Genocide: Genocide Studies and Prevention. 3 (3). https://doi.org/10.1353/gsp.2011.0043
Residents of 05 and 14 Localities. (2021, May 5). Rape in Mekelle City. Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS data collectors.
Russell-Brown, S. L. (2003). Rape as an Act of Genocide. 21(350 ). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012669202-0/50028-2
Sarah Vaughan and Martin Plaut. (2023). Land, POWer and Empire. In M. P. (eds.), Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
Sharlach, L. (2000). Rape as Genocide: Bangladesh, the Former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda. 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/713687893
Shire-05- GI-13. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmision of HIV/AIDs in Tigray . Interviewe with community members . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Sitel Benat. (2023, June 17). Rape and Torture in Tigray Genocide . Key Interview with Responders . Interviewer-Muauz Gidey .
Sustersic, F. ( 2014/2015). Excluded From the World of Men Dehumanization of Victims and Perpetrators in the Genocidal Context, European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization. Maastricht University.
Tigray Genocide Commissioner. (2023, July 4). Rate and Prevalence of rape. Informal interview with rhe commisioner. Interviewer-Muauz Gidey .
Tigray Health Bureau. (2023). War Damage Assement of the Health System and HIV/AIDs Pandemics in Tigray. Mekelle: NP: Tigray Health Bureau Archives.
Tigray TV. (2022). The 78 Years of Nun from Derbe Abay Monastr: a Gang Rape Victim. Mekelle.
TIPS. (2021). War damage assessment. Mekelle: NP-TIPS Archive.
UNGA. (Dec. 9, 1948). Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. New YorK: UN.
W/2. General Interview Respondent. (2021, May 22). Public Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Interviewer-Teodros S.
W/4. (2021, May 20). Victimization . Interview with Respondent. Interviewer-Teodros S.
W/5. General Interview Respondent. (2021, May 22). Pubic Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Intervieer-Teodros S.
W/Hawzen. (2020, May). Testimony of Mutual Rape. Key infoemant Interview. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
W/Shera/KI12. (2021, May 11 ). Victims of war. Key Informant Interview . Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Wahyuni, Y. S. (2020). Rape as a weapon in genocide and wars: Enquiring the problems of women’s witnessing rape. 16(2). https://doi.org/10.21831/jss.v16i2.34696
Wasiak, K. (2020). Raped Life. Sexual Violence as a Forward-Looking War Practice: Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 34(41).
Werkamba and Hagereselam FGD. (2021, April 13). Public Rape, Spialge and Humilation. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Wukiro Victims of Rape. (2020, May 21). Rape, Torture and Sexula Mutilation . Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector .
Wukro-Agaezi- GI-5. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmision of HIV/AIDS. Interciew with Community Members . Interviewer-Dr Assefa Leake.
Wukro-Dedebit- KI-9. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Interview with Community Members . Interviewer-Dr Assefa Leake.
Wukro-FGD 11. (2021, May 19). Rape and sexyual enslavment of Tigray girls and women. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collectetors.
Addis Getachew and Seleshi Tessema. (2018, April 18). ‘Ethiopia: New PM Receives Rapturous Welcome in Tigray’. (Anadolu Agency) Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://www.aa.com.
AG/1. FGD Participant. (2021, May 10). Public Rape, Spilage and Humilation. Interviewer-Teodros S.
Aidi, H. (August 2021). The Tigray War and the African Union. Policy Brief. PB-28/21. Rabat: Policy Center for the New South.
Amnesty International. (2021). “I do not know if they realized I was a Person”: Rape and other sexual Violence in the conflict in Tigray. London : Amnesty International Ltd. Peter Benenson House.
Askin, K. ( 2006). Prosecuting Gender Crimes Committed in Darfur: Holding Leaders Accountable for Sexual Violence. pp. 141-162. In S. T. Markusen, Genocide in Darfur: Investigating the Atrocities in the Sudan. New York: Routledge.
Atakilt, E. (2020, May ). Abiy is a demagogue. The Politics of Abiy Ahmed. Tigray Mass Media Agency. Tigray TV , Mekelle.
Borda, A. Z. (2022). Putting Reproductive Violence on the Agenda: A Case Studyof the Yazidis. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2022.2100594.
Burtea, B. (2015). Traditional Medicine and Magic According to Some Ethiopian Manuscripts From European Collections . (18). https://doi.org/10.15460/aethiopica.18.1.924
Chernetsov, S. (ND). Ethiopian Magic Texts. (2). https://doi.org/10.1163/18177565-90000007
CNN. (2021, March 22). ‘Practically This Has Been a Genocide’. Retrieved May 13 May 2023, 2023, from CNN.
Danial, K. (24, January). An official video shared on Danial Kibret’s twitter Account . (2022) Retrieved February 2, 2022
Di Caro, C. B. (2005). Call It What It Is: Genocide through Male Rape And Sexual Violence In The Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. 30(55).
Docker, J. (2008). The Origins of Violence: Religion, History and Genocide . London: Pluto Press.
Dr H.Y. (2021, February ). The Confession of POW in Mekelle POW Camp . Muauz Gidey .
DT/Ay/FGD3. (2021, May 25). Rape and Violation. Intervewer-Gebreslassie.
DT/Ay/FGD3. General informants. (2021, May 25). Pubic Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Interviewer Gebreslassie.
Dyan Mazurana. Hayelom K. Mekonen, Bridget Conley, Alex de Waal, and Delia Burns. (2021, August 10). What ‘Rape as a Weapon of War’ in Tigray Really Means.The Fletcher School comment policy. Retrieved 07 05, 2023, from http://www.fletcherforum.org/comment-policy.
EBC. (2021). Abiy Ahmed’s Speech iun Parliament about the war in Tigray . EBC.
ENDF-Report. (2021). Video footage of ENDF’s Evaluation Report of The Military Defeat in Tigray . Tigray Tv . Tigray Mass Media Agency Archive, Mekelle.
Ezega-Staff Reporter. “The EPRDF Officially Ends; The Prosperity Party Begins”. (2019 , December 26). (Ezega) Retrieved August 14, 2020, from http://www.ezega.com .
FGD-Shiraro localities. ( 2021, May). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs FGD-Shiraro tabias: Seder, Mussie, Alganesh, and Hayelom. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector .
FGD-Shiraro localities. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs FGD-Shiraro tabias: Seder, Mussie, Alganesh, and Hayelom. Interviewer-[interv.] TIPS Data Collector.
FGD-Women CSOs. ( 2023, July 3). The Role of Women in Peace Process and Transitional Justice. Interviewer-Muauz Gidey.
Flint, J., & de Waal, A. (2005). Darfur: A Short History of a Long War. London: Zed. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195181630.003.0003
Genet-TWDA. (2023, July 4). Rape, tourture and killing of disabled women. Key informant interview . interviewer-Muauz Gidey.
Getachew, R. (2023, July ). Rape and Deliberate Tramsmission of HIV/AIDs by Eritrean army. Interview with Tigray TV . Tigray Mass Media Agency . Tigray TV Studio, Mekelle.
H/Wejerat-Adi-Qaih-GI-1. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Inerview with Community Members . Interviewer-Abriha Tesfay.
Harry Verhoeven & Michael Woldemariam. (June 2022). Who lost Ethiopia? The unmaking of an African anchor state and US Foreign Policy . Contemporary Security Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13523260.2022.2091580
Hernández, A. (2017). “The Ajamization of Islam in Ethiopia through esoteric textual manifestations in two collections of Ethiopian Arabic manuscripts”. 1-2(8). https://doi.org/10.1163/21540993-00801004
Human Rights Watch. (2022). “We Will Erase You From This Land”: Crime Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray Zone. USA: Human Rights Watch.
Humera Rape Victim. (2021, March 10). Surviving Rape and killing. interview . interviewer-Liwam H. .
ICC. (2013.). Elemnts of Crime. The Hague: ICC.
ICTR. (Nov. 8, 1994). International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. I.L.M.
ICTY. ( May 25, 1993.). International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. I.L.M.
IDPS Shire -University Center. (2021, May). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDS. IDPs FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector. Shire Town .
IDPs Shire -University Center. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Interview with IDPs. Interviewer-TIPS data collector.
IDPs-Shire-FGD13. (2021, May 21). Rape and Sexual Eslavement of Tigray Girls and Women. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collectors.
Jorgensen, C. M. (2016). A Case Study Analysis of Dehumanization in Rwanda and Darfur. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University: Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies.
KoT/Gur/FGD1. (2021, May 10). General informant of War damage . Community FGD. Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Letay, H. (2021., January 23). Rape and Tortourting the womb . Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Malara, D. M. (2020). Sympathy for the Devil: secrecy, magic and transgression among Ethiopian Orthodox . Glasgow: University of Glasgow. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2019.1707255
Marlowe, J., Bain, A., & Shapiro, A. . (2006). New York: Nation Books.
Martin Plaut and Sarah Vaughan (eds.). (2023). Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
Mekelle FGD. (2021, April 14). Public Rape, Spialge and Humilation. Community FGD. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Monalisa. (2021, February ). Surving Rape, Torture and Execution . Rape as weapon of Genocide . Tigray Mass Media Agency . Tigray TV, Mekelle .
N/MD/2. (2021, May 26). Victimization. Interview with victims . Interviewer-Teodros S. .
N/MD/3. (2021, May 26). Victimization . Interview with victims . Interviewer-Teodros S.
Plaut, M. (2023). Eritrea, The Horn and The Path To War. In M. P. (eds.), Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
RA/Me/KI4. (2021, April 30). Victim of The Tigray War. Interviewer Gebreslassie.
RA/Me/KI5. ( 2020, April 28). Victim of war. Key INformant Interview . Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Reid-Cunningham, A. R. (December 2008). Rape as a Weapon of Genocide: Genocide Studies and Prevention. 3 (3). https://doi.org/10.1353/gsp.2011.0043
Residents of 05 and 14 Localities. (2021, May 5). Rape in Mekelle City. Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS data collectors.
Russell-Brown, S. L. (2003). Rape as an Act of Genocide. 21(350 ). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012669202-0/50028-2
Sarah Vaughan and Martin Plaut. (2023). Land, POWer and Empire. In M. P. (eds.), Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray War. London: Hurst & Company.
Sharlach, L. (2000). Rape as Genocide: Bangladesh, the Former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda. 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/713687893
Shire-05- GI-13. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmision of HIV/AIDs in Tigray . Interviewe with community members . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Sitel Benat. (2023, June 17). Rape and Torture in Tigray Genocide . Key Interview with Responders . Interviewer-Muauz Gidey .
Sustersic, F. ( 2014/2015). Excluded From the World of Men Dehumanization of Victims and Perpetrators in the Genocidal Context, European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization. Maastricht University.
Tigray Genocide Commissioner. (2023, July 4). Rate and Prevalence of rape. Informal interview with rhe commisioner. Interviewer-Muauz Gidey .
Tigray Health Bureau. (2023). War Damage Assement of the Health System and HIV/AIDs Pandemics in Tigray. Mekelle: NP: Tigray Health Bureau Archives.
Tigray TV. (2022). The 78 Years of Nun from Derbe Abay Monastr: a Gang Rape Victim. Mekelle.
TIPS. (2021). War damage assessment. Mekelle: NP-TIPS Archive.
UNGA. (Dec. 9, 1948). Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. New YorK: UN.
W/2. General Interview Respondent. (2021, May 22). Public Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Interviewer-Teodros S.
W/4. (2021, May 20). Victimization . Interview with Respondent. Interviewer-Teodros S.
W/5. General Interview Respondent. (2021, May 22). Pubic Rape, Spoilage and Humilation. Intervieer-Teodros S.
W/Hawzen. (2020, May). Testimony of Mutual Rape. Key infoemant Interview. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
W/Shera/KI12. (2021, May 11 ). Victims of war. Key Informant Interview . Interviewer-Gebreslassie.
Wahyuni, Y. S. (2020). Rape as a weapon in genocide and wars: Enquiring the problems of women’s witnessing rape. 16(2). https://doi.org/10.21831/jss.v16i2.34696
Wasiak, K. (2020). Raped Life. Sexual Violence as a Forward-Looking War Practice: Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 34(41).
Werkamba and Hagereselam FGD. (2021, April 13). Public Rape, Spialge and Humilation. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector.
Wukiro Victims of Rape. (2020, May 21). Rape, Torture and Sexula Mutilation . Key informant Interview . Interviewer-TIPS Data Collector .
Wukro-Agaezi- GI-5. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmision of HIV/AIDS. Interciew with Community Members . Interviewer-Dr Assefa Leake.
Wukro-Dedebit- KI-9. (2021, May ). Rape and Deliberate Transmission of HIV/AIDs. Interview with Community Members . Interviewer-Dr Assefa Leake.
Wukro-FGD 11. (2021, May 19). Rape and sexyual enslavment of Tigray girls and women. Interviewer-TIPS Data Collectetors.
Article Sidebar
Published
Aug 12, 2024
Article Details
How to Cite
“Your Womb is Our Enemy!” : The Rape of Tigray as Genocidal Rape. (2024). Journal of BRICS Studies, 3(1), 42-60. https://doi.org/10.36615/rd8sjp28
Issue
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Licensing information
Creative Commons CC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License
© Author(s)
How to Cite
“Your Womb is Our Enemy!” : The Rape of Tigray as Genocidal Rape. (2024). Journal of BRICS Studies, 3(1), 42-60. https://doi.org/10.36615/rd8sjp28