Sexual Torture

‘Rape is a War Crime’ – Eighty women with bags over their heads, hands tied behind their backs, smeared with fake blood protesting outside the Russian embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, in solidarity with rape victims in Ukraine. Credit E. Blazio, LRT, 2022.

Sexual torture refers to any sexual act, threat, or form of sexualised humiliation carried out against a person’s will with the purpose of causing severe physical or psychological suffering. According to the Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and the Istanbul Protocol, sexual violence constitutes torture when it meets the legal elements of severity, intent, and involvement of a State official or a person acting with their consent or acquiescence.

Sexual torture is used to punish, intimidate, coerce, or discriminate against individuals, and it exploits power imbalances to degrade or destroy a person’s dignity. It affects people of all genders and ages and occurs in contexts such as detention, armed conflict, displacement settings, and situations of dependency or control.

Acts recognised by international courts and UN bodies as forms of sexual torture include rape, sexual assault, forced nudity, forced sexual acts, genital violence, reproductive violence such as forced sterilisation or forced pregnancy, and compelled witnessing of sexual abuse. These acts are inherently discriminatory and are understood as forms of gender‑based violence.

Sexual torture causes profound and long‑lasting harm that extends across psychological, physical, and social dimensions. Survivors may experience suicidality, Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, insomnia, personality changes, and sexual dysfunction, alongside intense feelings of shame, guilt, emotional instability, and, in some cases, self‑harm.

These psychological impacts are often compounded by severe social consequences, including stigma, isolation, and the breakdown of family or community relationships. For women who have experienced rape, the social repercussions can be particularly acute, such as unwanted pregnancy and reduced marriage prospects, adding further layers of vulnerability and discrimination.

Legal Status in UN Instruments

UNCAT (1984): While the UN Convention against Torture does not explicitly list “sexual torture” in its article 1, international courts and committees have firmly established that rape and sexual violence are acts of torture.

Istanbul Protocol: Defines sexual torture as acts “with the intention of producing physical and psychological suffering”.

Rome Statute: Recognises rape, sexual slavery, and forced prostitution as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV): The UN defines this as any form of sexual violence linked to a conflict (political, ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation targeting).

Sexual torture is absolutely prohibited under international law, and there is no statute of limitations for its prosecution when it is classified as a crime against humanity, a war crime, or an act of torture under international criminal law.

States have an obligation to prevent, investigate, and respond to such acts whether committed directly by officials or by private actors with state knowledge or acquiescence.

“Sharing the story is like lifting a burden from your soul. And I encourage other survivors that healing is when you share your pain, when you share your story. That’s where the healing begins.”

Shyhrete Tahiri-Sylejmani, Torture Survivor, Kosovo.

Webinars:
Sexual Torture

Sexual torture: What is it? What is it not?

Sexual Torture: What role does Stigma play

Sexual Torture: Disclosure, Documentation and the Istanbul protocol

Sexual Torture: Intervention and Treatment Approaches in Kosovo and Guatemala

Sexual Torture: The UN’s SRT Report – Key Priorities Going Forward

Restoring Power: Gender-Responsive Care for Women Survivors of Sexual Torture

Highlight:
Experiences from Kosovo

The Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT), founded in 1999, provides specialised rehabilitation for survivors of torture and war‑related trauma. Established in response to the urgent psychosocial needs following the Kosovo war, KRCT has become a leading organisation supporting survivors across all communities.

A central focus of its work is assisting survivors of conflict‑related sexual violence through trauma care, legal and policy advocacy, and efforts to secure recognition and reparations. KRCT also works to reduce stigma, mobilise communities, and empower survivors through skills development and peer‑support networks, contributing to justice, healing, and long‑term resilience.