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Soldiering and Silences: Witnessing Child Sexual Abuse in Afghanistan

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Based on interviews with United Kingdom veterans, this special commentary offers a new interpretation of war trauma. Few studies investigate the emotions soldiers experience when witnessing child sexual assault. During the Afghan campaign, personnel witnessed acts of rape by allies in the Afghan security services on boys—usually excused as the local practice of Bacha Bazi—and were directed not to intervene. This special commentary examines the effects of these actions on soldiers and the mission, highlighting how soldiers were impacted by what they witnessed but could not stop.

Source: The US Army War College Quarterly Parameters

DOI: 10.55540/0031-1723.3328

Authors: Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Martin Thorp

Language: English

Topic: Gender, Security, and Conflict

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4408699389

FWCI:

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Related to: 10