Medical Record Review and Evidence of Mass Rape During the 2007-2008 Postelection Violence in Kenya.
Author:
Anastario, M.
Date:
2016
Language:
English
Region:
Africa
Country:
Kenya
Full Harvard Reference:
Anastario, M. (2016). Medical Record Review and Evidence of Mass Rape During the 2007-2008 Postelection Violence in Kenya. In Sanford, V, Stefatos, K. & Salvi, C. M. (eds.) Gender Violence in Peace and War: States of Complicity. (pp 85-101) Rutgers University Press.
This chapter explores the documented changes in information of violent events during a humanitarian emergency (postelection violence) compared to times of no mass crime. Addressing the difficulty of obtaining evidence of crimes due to limited resources, the findings show that survivors of sexual assault were unable to report to healthcare facilities within a 72-hour time frame to obtain biological forensic evidence due to law enforcement blockages, road shutdowns, and lack of knowledge on what to do post assault. The study is first of its kind to use medical records and isolate the postelection time period to determine the spike in sexual assaults.