Sexual Violence Against Men in Armed Conflict

TLDR

Sexual violence by men against men has been documented across many conflicts from ancient times to recent wars, yet the literature remains sparse and often treated as a footnote. The article seeks to quantify the prevalence of male sexual violence in armed conflict and to identify factors that contribute to its under‑reporting and lack of detection. It examines the specific forms of male sexual violence—rape, enforced sterilization, nudity, masturbation, genital assault—and analyzes how power dynamics, emasculation, feminization, and anti‑procreation motives shape these offenses.

Abstract

Reports of sexual violence by men against men emerge from numerous conflicts, ranging in time from Ancient Persia and the Crusades to the conflicts in Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite these accounts, relatively little material exists on the subject and the issue tends to be relegated to a footnote. This article ascertains the extent to which male sexual violence is committed in armed conflict. It considers factors that explain under-reporting by victims and lack of detection on the part of others. The particular forms of male sexual violence are also examined: namely rape, enforced sterilization and other forms of sexual violence, including enforced nudity, enforced masturbation and genital violence. The dynamics present in these offences are explored, with issues of power and dominance, expressed through emasculation, considered. Thus, attention is paid to ideas of feminization, homosexualization and the prevention of procreation. The symbolic construction of male and female bodies in armed conflict is also explored.