For more information on this publication, visit /pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD417.html Published 2018 by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif.R is a registered trademark Limited Print and Electronic Distribution RightsThis document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RANDintellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publicationonline is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it isunaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any ofits research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit /pubs/permissions.html.The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges tohelp make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.Support RANDMake a tax-deductible charitable contribution at /giving/contributeiiiAbstractWartime sexual violence is one of the most devastating forms of violence committed againstwomen and girls during armed conflicts. It is used as a tool of war to systematically targetvulnerable groups, incite displacement, inflict suffering, and sever community cohesion.Research has shown that it has catastrophic effects on the health and well-being of survivors.However, there is a dearth of evidence on its long-term effects on survivors and their personalnetworks. In northern Uganda—a region that was marred by protracted conflict for 20 years— about 30 percent of women report having experienced at least one form of conflict-related sexualviolence, including forced marriage, rape, and forced pregnancy. The objectives of thisdissertation were to study the enduring effects of wartime sexual violence on Ugandan womenand explore its ripple effects on families.In-depth interviews were conducted to: (a) assess survivors’ perception of the persistingeffects of wartime sexual violence on their health, relationships, and care seeking behaviors; and(b) explore how the indirect exposure to wartime sexual violence affected parents, siblings, andintimate partners. The relationship between women’s exposure to conflict events and theirexperience of intimate partner violence was explored using data from a nationally representativesurvey. Findings show that women survivors continue to suffer from unresolved and untreatedtrauma, lack access to mental health care, and face economic hardships due to community stigmaand customary laws that prevent women from owning land. Family members were susceptible tosecondary traumatic stress, and both survivors and family members used coping mechanisms,such as memory repression and faith. Relationships were often disrupted after survivorsdisclosed their experiences or if they had children born of wartime rape. Intimate partnerviolence was found to be generally high among Ugandan women, but significant differences inprevalence rates were not observed for women living in war-affected regions versus those inunaffected areas. Recommendations for policy and practice include providing trauma-informed care withinexisting community support mechanisms; working with religious leaders to address inequitiesaround land inheritance; and supporting survivor-led initiatives, including reintegration ofchildren born of wartime rape through family reunions.vTable of ContentsAbstract ...... iii Figures........ ix Tables ......... xi Executive Summary ......... xiii Acknowledgments.......... xxiii Abbreviations ...... xxv1. Introduction ......... 1 Global Overview of Sexual Violence in Conflict . 1 Scope and Magnitude of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) ...... 2 Global Effort and Gaps ..... 3 Why does CRSV Happen ........... 4 Consequences of CRSV ... 6 The Case of Northern Uganda ...... 8 Objectives ........... 11 2. Methods. 13 Conceptual Framework .. 13 Methods for Chapter 3 .... 14 Data on Conflict ......... 15 Data on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) ....... 16 Analysis .......... 17 Methods for Chapters 4 and 5..... 19 Research Design ......... 19 Research Site .. 22 Research Team ........... 23 Recruitment of Participants .... 24 Interview Setting & Procedure ........... 26 Data Management & Protection ......... 28 Researcher Positionality ......... 29 Validity ........... 31 Analysis .......... 32 3. Overview of the Ugandan Conflict and Women’s Experience of Intimate Partner Violence .. 35 Background......... 35 Objectives ........... 38 Results .... 39 Overview of Conflict-events by Armed Actors Using Sexual Violence ........ 39 Descriptive Summary of Intimate Partner Violence .. 44 。。。。。。