The Global Health and Forensic Dimensions of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: An In-depth Investigation on Its Health Impacts

Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a form of gender-based violence (GBV), a human rights violation and a public health concern, disproportionately affecting women and marginalized individuals with intersectional identities. While traditionally viewed as a weapon of war, CRSV is now understood in broader terms, involving both armed forces and civilians, and not only as a strategy by troops but also as opportunistic violence in conflict environments. This study investigates the health consequences of CRSV using a biopsychosocial approach, integrating frameworks on access to care, and a survivor-centered, human rights-based perspective incorporating sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It addresses four key areas: physical, mental, and social health outcomes; barriers to accessing care; documentation of CRSV sequelae during forensic examinations; and survivors' descriptions of the violence they endured. The study involved two literature reviews and a qualitative study. Results show CRSV causes significant physical, psychological, and social health impacts, including pregnancy, PTSD, fear, and stigma. The connection between CRSV and SRHR is evident, particularly in sexual health consequences, self-stigma, and relationship impacts. Barriers to access to care were institutional and social, with gender-specific challenges. Forensic medical examinations rarely documented CRSV-specific sequelae. At access to care, survivors described various forms of abuse, including those encountered during migration. This research highlights the need for further investigation into the social consequences of CRSV, the experiences of cisgender men and transgender individuals, and the documentation of abuses in transit countries like Libya. It also underscores the importance of addressing care access for marginalized populations and understanding survivors' coping strategies.