Rape of Women During French Colonialism ... A Crime of Honor that Escaped Punishment

Abstract

Rape has been widely used as a weapon of war throughout history, with women often becoming the easiest targets during conflicts. In such circumstances, they are turned into primary objectives, employed to humiliate and demoralize the enemy. The bodies of women from the opposing side are thus transformed into vulnerable and easily attainable war targets. This was precisely the case during the colonial period in Algeria, from 1830 to 1962. However, despite being routinely practiced by French forces for over a century against virtuous Algerian women, rape remained a silenced crime. While rape is now recognized internationally as a war crime and a crime against humanity, Algeria's chances of prosecuting the perpetrators remain slim. The long-standing silence surrounding this crime has changed its narrative and obscured crucial evidence. Furthermore, international legal protections for women from rape in times of war came too late.