III I N T E G R AT I N G A G E N D E R P E R S P E C T I V E I N T O H U M A N R I G H T S I N V E S T I G AT I O N S • G U I D A N C E A N D P R A C T I C E D INTERSECTING FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION Example The Secretary-General has reported on cases where conflict-related SGBV was directed against women and girls from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. (S/2014/181, para. 33) Women, men and others may be subjected to intersecting forms of discrimination based on, inter alia, sex, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and class.59 For example, during and after conflict, specific groups of women and girls are at particular risk of violence, such as internally displaced and refugee women, women’s human rights defenders, women belonging to diverse caste, ethnic, national, religious and other minorities that are often attacked as symbolic representatives of their community, widows and women with disability. Female combatants and women in the military are also vulnerable to sexual assault and harassment by state and non-state armed groups,60 as was witnessed in the Rwandan genocide, where gender-based propaganda incited the rape of Tutsi women. The team must analyse how different grounds for discrimination can result in – or compound the impact of – specific violations. “According to some testimony, rapes were committed on ethnic grounds, especially during the offensives of some armed groups. The victims are usually ‘dark-skinned’ people, who are considered inferior by their ‘fair-skinned’ assailants.” (A/HRC/22/33, para. 32) “Repatriated women who are pregnant are regularly subjected to forced abortions, and babies born to repatriated women are often killed. These practices are driven by racist attitudes towards interracial children … and the intent to punish further women who have left the country …” (A/HRC/25/63, para. 42) OHCHR (2011), Chapter 15, p. 6. 59 CEDAW general recommendation No. 30 (2013), para. 36. 60 48