Sexual violence and exploitation are endemic in regions affected by armed conflict, and children are often among the victims. It is estimated that tens of thousands of children have been born as a result of sexual violence or exploitation over the past decades. Born of war, these children are deeply marked by the social upheavals that led to their conception, as well as by the treatment they receive from society due to their biological origins.

According to numerous testimonies and scientific research, children born from wartime rape face significant risks, including stigma, discrimination, abandonment, and even infanticide when they are still infants. Due to extreme economic hardships and the absence of support networks, they may be exposed to food insecurity, limited or no access to education, homelessness, recruitment into armed groups, human trafficking, increased risk of radicalization, and poor health.

The primary risk of stigma, discrimination, and rejection faced by children born from sexual violence comes from their own family and community, often because of the child’s connection to an “enemy” or “foreign” father. From birth, the child’s identity and sense of belonging are questioned, creating threats to their physical safety and psychological well-being. Mothers themselves may not feel joy in giving birth to a child born of rape. They inevitably face anxiety in caring for these children, which can lead to physical or emotional abuse and chronic neglect.

As these children grow, numerous barriers emerge. Some are denied citizenship by the countries where they were born, either as a deliberate form of discrimination or due to indirect factors related to citizenship laws based on descent. The lack of official citizenship can have economic consequences if children are denied access to healthcare or education. Statelessness also affects their freedom of movement, right to asylum, and access to social benefits. In Croatia, children born of wartime rape of Bosnian refugee women were denied the right to attend school. In some countries, such as Vietnam, where fathers declare births and claim legal paternity, a large number of children born from rape remain unregistered and without civil status.

Addressing the complex social issue of protecting children born from rape requires special attention to both children’s rights, the neglected subgroup of children born of rape, and the survivors of sexual violence. Empowering mothers to combat their vulnerability will provide natural protection for the children. Economic independence, healthcare, and trauma healing will enable them to create a supportive environment where they can offer love and care to their child.