The International court plans to classify rape as a crime against humanity in response to the increasing use of rape as a war tactic. Premeditated, organized rape is being used as a war tactic in many nations, and the UN has responded by declaring rape an internationally recognized war crime for the first time in history. A UN commission and human rights groups first started tracking incidences of strategic rape in Bosnia between 1991 and 1995, where Serbs were trying to drive Muslims from their homes. Then the tactic reappeared in Rwanda, Indonesia, and the Balkans. It has such devastating effects on communities, particularly in traditional societies or very religious communities, said Ken Frazblau of Equality Now.
Genital mutilation is another war tactic that was used in Rwanda.
Widney Brown, women s rights advocate for Human Rights Watch, said, Mutilation is another way of saying, We don t conceive of these people as a human being. The difference today, however, is how women are responding to these rapes. Today, victims speak out in anger, often assisted by human rights and women s rights organizations. Internationally, womens groups have pressured the UN to form ad hoc tribunals to hear testimony of gendered war crimes. UN relief agencies have also succeeded in bringing gynecological services, including the morning after pill to women in refugee camps who bcame pregnant due to rape.