Why was rape once wrongly viewed as an inevitable accompaniment to war?

Rape was historically mischaracterized as an inevitable byproduct of war due to the flawed belief that it resulted from the prolonged sexual deprivation of troops and a lack of sufficient military discipline.1

This perspective was fundamentally incorrect, as it ignored the reality that rape is a deliberate act of violence rather than an uncontrollable biological urge. In truth, rape has frequently been employed as a strategic weapon of war to terrorize civilian populations, demoralize enemy forces, and carry out acts of ethnic cleansing or genocide.1

The international community has since rejected this harmful myth, establishing that sexual violence in conflict is a grave violation of human rights. It is now recognized under international law as a war crime and a crime against humanity, subject to prosecution by bodies such as the International Criminal Court.1