Harms and Challenges Faced by Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

Harms and Challenges Faced by Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

When the FCDO, at the Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) Conference in November 2022 launched the Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CBoCRSV), it identified as one of the four strategic priorities the ‘Building of Evidence and Understanding of CBoCRSV’.

A first step in this respect was the commissioning of a Rapid Evidence Assessment of academic and other research on CBoCRSV. GRACE trustees Sabine Lee and Toni Smith, alongside the University of Birmingham scholars Dr Kirstin Wagner and Ms Scarlet Elliott-Vass, conducted this review, with the aim of evaluating the risks, harms, and challenges faced by CBoCRSV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Following a multi-stage screening process, the team analysed a final dataset of 289 sources; the review provides the most comprehensive synthesis to date of the lived experiences of CBoCRSV as explored in the literature, of the interventions described in the data, and of the evolution of research in this field. 

Key Challenges 

The REA identifies eight major, interrelated challenges that shape the lives of CBoCRSV1: 

1. Stigmatisation and Social Exclusion (87%): CBoCRSV are often stigmatised as children associated with the enemy, leading to exclusion from families, kinship groups and communities.  

2. Maternal Neglect and Family Dynamics (80%): Mothers, often survivors of rape or captivity, may struggle to bond with their children due to the traumatic circumstances of conception. This can result in insecure attachments, and intergenerational trauma. 

3. Paternal Absence (42%): The lack of a recognised paternal identity contributes to legal and social exclusion, especially in patriarchal societies where lineage determines citizenship and inheritance. 

4. Legal and Institutional Barriers (48%): Many CBoCRSV lack birth certificates or legal documentation, putting some at risk of statelessness and impeding access to basic services. 

5. Psychological Trauma (39%): Depression, PTSD, and identity crises are significantly more common among CBoCRSV than among their age-peers, exacerbated by rejection, secrecy, and lack of mental health support. 

6. Educational Barriers (54%): Financial hardship, lack of documentation, and discrimination hinder school enrolment and retention, perpetuating cycles of poverty. 

7. Economic Hardship (54%): Families of CBoCRSV often face extreme poverty, with limited access to employment or inheritance, further marginalising these children. 

8. Cultural, Religious, and Racial Challenges (61%): Cultural norms around purity, race, and lineage often reinforce exclusion. 

    

Promising Interventions

While empirical evidence remains limited, the REA identifies several promising interventions:

• Psychosocial Support: Trauma-informed, community-based mental health services can help address identity struggles and intergenerational trauma. 

• Legal Advocacy: Simplifying birth registration and ensuring access to citizenship are critical for inclusion. 

• Economic Empowerment: Vocational training, microfinance, and scholarships can reduce economic vulnerability. 

• Educational Support: Removing documentation barriers and integrating psychosocial support into schools can improve access and retention. 

  
  

Policy Recommendations

The REA calls for coordinated, survivor-centred action across legal, social, and international domains:

• Strengthen legal frameworks to ensure documentation and citizenship. 

• Promote economic and educational inclusion through targeted support. 

• Embed CBoCRSV in national and international policy frameworks, including Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agendas. 

• Combat stigma through public awareness and community engagement. 

• Expand evidence-based interventions and invest in ethical, participatory research. 

• Foster global collaboration to standardise and scale effective practices.

  
  

CBoCRSV face layered and intersecting vulnerabilities that demand holistic, long-term, and inclusive responses. Addressing their needs is not only a moral imperative but also essential for sustainable peacebuilding and reconciliation. The REA provides a roadmap for advancing justice, inclusion, and dignity for these children and their families. 

1. Percentages given in relation to the different challenges experienced by CBoCRSV refer to the proportion of reviewed studies that mention or explore the specific challenge.

1. To Learn more about Advancing Justice and Inclusion for Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence click here

2. To access the full report on 'The Immediate and Long-Term Risks, Harms and Challenges Faced by Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CBoCRSV) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)' click here.