The forgotten crimes of war | Christina Lamb | FULL INTERVIEW

Episode Overview

• Renowned war correspondent Christina Lamb discusses why the experiences of women in conflict are historically overlooked, arguing that their stories are crucial to understanding the full reality of war.
• The episode delves into the systemic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, highlighting specific cases involving Boko Haram, ISIS, and the Rohingya, and the profound lack of justice for victims.
• Lamb shares her personal journey of becoming aware of the scale of these atrocities after decades in the field and reflects on the immense resilience of survivors.
• The conversation touches on the changing nature of modern warfare, where civilians are the primary casualties, and how Lamb personally decompresses from reporting on such traumatic events.

Key Concepts

• The Untold Story of War: Traditional military history, often written by men, focuses on combatants and battles, largely ignoring the vital role women play in sustaining society, protecting families, and ensuring survival during conflict.
• Sexual Violence as a Weapon: Rape is not merely a byproduct of war but a deliberate, systemic strategy used to terrorize, humiliate, and destroy communities. This was evident in the actions of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, who institutionalized sexual slavery.
• Lack of Accountability: Despite sexual violence being a war crime, there is a profound lack of accountability. Perpetrators are rarely prosecuted for these specific crimes, which are often treated as secondary to charges like terrorism, reflecting a systemic dismissal of their severity.
• The Stigma of Victimhood: Survivors of sexual violence, both female and male, face immense social stigma and shame. Victims are often ostracized by their own communities, which compounds their trauma and creates a powerful barrier to speaking out and seeking justice.
• Resilience and Hope: Despite the horrific realities she covers, Lamb finds hope and inspiration in the extraordinary resilience of individuals and communities who work to rebuild their lives and societies in the face of unimaginable trauma.

Quotes

• At 01:10 - "To me, the most interesting thing about war is how people live during a war, how they keep life together, how they feed children, protect the elderly, shelter them. The people that are doing that are the women, and they don't really get the credit." - Christina Lamb explains her focus on the underreported civilian experience, which is largely shouldered by women.
• At 13:12 - "He literally laughed. He said to me, 'But why would we charge them for that? They also killed people and tortured people.' I said, 'Don't you understand that for the women, what happened to them was worse?' And he really didn't." - Recounting a conversation with an Iraqi chief justice, Lamb illustrates how sexual violence is often dismissed as a lesser crime compared to terrorism or murder, even by legal authorities.
• At 21:17 - "In those places, you meet people doing remarkable things too, and in a strange way, that gives you a lot of faith in humanity, because you see, even if on a small scale, people are doing things to help their neighborhood or their people on their street." - Lamb reflects on how she copes with the darkness of her work by focusing on the inspiring acts of kindness and resilience she witnesses in conflict zones.

Takeaways

• Broaden your understanding of warfare. Look beyond the battlefield to recognize the crucial roles civilians, especially women, play in holding communities together. Their experiences are not a side story but central to the reality of conflict.
• Advocate for sexual violence to be treated as a primary war crime. Support organizations and legal efforts that push for the prosecution of sexual violence as a specific, heinous crime, rather than an incidental charge. This is essential for achieving justice and deterring future atrocities.
• Find hope in human resilience. Even in the darkest situations, individuals and communities demonstrate incredible strength and kindness. Recognizing these acts of humanity can provide a powerful counterbalance to the despair often associated with conflict.