Rape as an Act of Genocide

This article discusses the use of rape as part of an official policy of war designed to eliminate in whole or in part a particular group: namely, rape as a tool of genocide. Part II outlines the status of rape as a crime under international humanitarian law, focusing on the Geneva Conventions, violations of the laws and customs of war and crimes against humanity. Part III focuses directly on the 1951 Genocide Convention and rape as an act of genocide. Part IV outlines the persistent debates surrounding genocidal rape. Part V discusses the genocidal campaign in Rwanda, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Finally, Part VI explores in greater depth the contribution of the ICTR's Akayesu judgment to clarifying the debate over the status of genocidal rape. [Descriptors: Armed Conflict, International - Africa, International]