Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on the 24th of February, numerous allegations have emerged that Russian soldiers have been and continue to sexually assault women. Rape and sexual assaults are war crimes, and a breach of international humanitarian law, but despite U.N. resolutions, international legal duties, voluntary pledges and so on, the use of these crimes continues. We speak Dr. Johanna Higgs, a women’s rights activist, anthropologist and the founder of the women's rights advocacy group Project Monma, to discuss how rape and sexual violence are used as weapons of war, with a focus on the Ukraine conflict.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs

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Categories:  social issues,  politics

Tags:  Russia-Ukraine war,  Johanna Higgs,  the bigger picture,  live and learn,  rape,  sexual assault,  war crimes,  un security council,  project monma,  sexual violence,