Sexual violence in conflict is an "unending bomb"—How to heal wounds that transcend generations

1. Introduction: The "Invisible Postwar" Never Ends

In a refugee camp in northwestern Syria, 9-year-old Reem, standing before the reporting team, said she was more afraid of "the night" than the sound of bombings. Her mother was repeatedly assaulted by armed groups during the civil war and suffers from PTSD-induced sleep disorders. Reem hears her mother's screams every night and experiences the same nightmares. The true horror of CRSV (Conflict-Related Sexual Violence) continues into the "second generation" like Reem.en.wikipedia.org

2. The Five Chains Highlighted by Forbes

Dr. Ewelina Ochab from Forbes organizes the following five stages based on reports from victim support organizations.

1. Psychological Chain: Transmission of PTSD, depression, and traumatic memories between mother and child

2. Physical Chain: Premature birth and reduced immunity due to stress during pregnancy

3. Social Chain: Discrimination against children born of rape and the risk of statelessness

4. Economic Chain: Dropping out of school→low income→poverty cycle

5. Legal Chain: Impunity for perpetrators perpetuates violenceforbes.com

3. What Science Has Uncovered: The Epigenetics Debate

A series of studies suggest that trauma can alter the expression of stress response genes through DNA methylation. In March 2025, an analysis of 48 families across three generations in Syria confirmed 21 mutations. However, separating these from environmental factors is challenging, and "conclusive evidence" is still lacking.nypost.com

4. The Hardships of the "Second Generation" Through Concrete Examples

• Northern Uganda: Children of sexual slaves by the LRA cannot obtain birth registration or attend school.

• Bosnia: Children born of rape during the Bosnian War face employment discrimination even as adults.

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) has doubled in CRSV-affected areas.en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

5. The Position of the International Community and Japan

UNSCR 1325 and 1820 explicitly state that "sexual violence is a war crime." Nevertheless, international initiatives like PSVI struggle with funding shortages. Japan, through its Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Action Plan, pledges support, but its contributions and specialized personnel are fewer compared to major donors.en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

6. Empathy and Anger Spreading on SNS—Reading Voices Through Data

From June 15 to 18, there were 6,800 posts in the Japanese-speaking sphere of X (formerly Twitter) containing "wartime sexual violence" and "#EndCRSV". When visualized, there was a sharp increase in ① voices calling for the use of Japan's ODA ② voices advocating for the expansion of refugee acceptance ③ sharing of victim testimony videos.

"To think the scars remain even in the DNA. Japan should also raise its voice." @humanrights_jp
"As long as the perpetrators are not judged, children will be hurt again." @doctor_kokoro
These were extracted from the public dashboard of the analysis tool "Talkwalker".twitter.com

7. Interview: From the Support Field

A. Yanga (Representative of NGO "Safe Mothers DRC")

"To prevent secondary damage, counseling on a 'family unit' basis is essential. The case where Japanese midwives provided remote guidance was a success story."

8. Four Proposals for Resolution

1. Expansion of Compensation Fund: Increase Japan's contribution to 2 billion yen annually (currently about 300 million yen).

2. Dispatch of Mental Health Care Professionals: Train 100 certified psychologists over five years and send them to the field.

3. Support for Granting Nationality to Children: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborates with UNHCR to simplify birth registration.

4. Evidence Research: Establish new research funds for joint research between domestic universities and universities in affected countries.

9. Conclusion—The Last Chance to Break the "Chain"

Sexual violence in war zones has a destructive power that lasts longer than bombings. If we do not act now, the generation of Reem's grandchildren will also fear the same nights. The power of Japan's technology, funds, and civil society holds the key to breaking that chain.

Main References

• United Nations “International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict” (2025)un.org

• Wikipedia “Wartime sexual violence” “Transgenerational trauma”en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

• UNSC Res.1325, 1820en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

• Various reports and academic reviews on DRC, South Sudan, Syriapeople.comen.wikipedia.org