“The Black Woman Resists”. Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Afro-Colombian Women in Colombia

While perspectives on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) have changed in recent years, questions remain about how to understand and represent this issue, particularly in relation to gender and racialized sexual violence. In this study, we explore the intersection of sex, gender, and race in the experiences of CRSV endured by Afro-Colombian women within the context of the armed conflict in Colombia. Drawing on testimonies collected by the Colombian Truth Commission, we analyze how these narratives expose the structural entanglement of sexism and racism. Our analysis identifies three thematic categories: ambivalence between desire and contempt, sexual object identity, and enslavement. These findings emphasize the unique vulnerability of Afro-Colombian women in armed conflict and underscore the importance of centering their voices within transitional justice and peacebuilding frameworks.