“Collateral Damage” these two words change a female who has been raped into a statistics; the two words that excuse sexual violence as an unfortunate but inevitable side-effect of war. In the war-torn areas criminalization cannot be the only focus; even prevention of sexual violence should be emphasized.

Even though all actions have been taken to prevent sexual violence, rape is still used as a weapon of war; therefore, those affected need our help. Some abortive services works in precarious places throughout the world and sees far too many people get away with using rape as a weapon of war.

For example, there are many women in Mali who were raped and had asked the help of abortive services. They fled the conflict in the north and survived to tell the tale. However so many others like them bear the consequences of being reduced to a statistic.  Ostracized and homeless by their community, they were left at risk of STIs and HIV, and facing the stark reality that they may be pregnant with their rapist’s child.

For the females caught up in conflict, sexual and reproductive health care is as vital as food to eat, a clean drinking water, and place to sleep.

So what does support look like?

When a female has been raped, she requires immediate protection and treatment. She needs health care to prevent a pregnancy, treat STIs, and prevent HIV. STIs and HIV that are not treated can be devastating, and the consequences of a woman resorting to an unsafe abortion are heartbreaking. Safe abortion pills should be open to the unlucky women who are much in need.

Providing safe abortive services is fraught with controversy. Certain NGOs and organizations allows for women raped in conflict to receive this support, but medical teams are often uncertain when international laws triumph, and even too scared to offer an abortion. Daily, in the countries the consequences of unsafe abortion are seen. Whether a doctor will help or not, females will literally risk their lives to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Trying to put this into context, one study of refugees in 10 countries found that up to 78% of the maternal deaths were a result childbirth or unsafe abortion.