Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: Rwanda, Global Silence, and the #MeToo Movement (Institutional Complicity, Cultural Silence, and the Fight for Change)
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This study explores the intentional use of sexual violence as a weapon of war during the Rwandan Genocide and draws parallel insights from other global conflicts. It centers survivor testimony, including that of women, men, and children, whose suffering, resilience, and voices have too often been marginalized or silenced. The research poses two fundamental questions: How has sexual violence in war been weaponized and erased through global apathy, media silence, and limited judicial accountability? And how can survivor-centric narratives help reshape collective memory and advance justice? Drawing on historical records, international jurisprudence, and documentary film, the study integrates emotional and contextual perspectives often missing from official discourse. Through a qualitative, multi-method lens, it examines how conflict related sexual violence is framed, acknowledged, distorted, or ignored. The research also considers how movements like #MeToo are shifting global conversations around gender-based violence, even in post-conflict contexts. What emerges is a clear and urgent call: for media, justice systems, and institutions to center the lived experiences of survivors, to tell the truth, and to commit to long-overdue recognition and healing. This work advances a survivor-centered, intersectional approach grounded in care, accountability, and moral courage.