Lava Kurda

News Center-Sexual violence in many societies is the result of the normalization of sexual abuse, to the point that it has become a widespread phenomenon sometimes referred to as “rape culture.” This environment is reinforced through social, cultural, and institutional behaviors that downplay the seriousness of these crimes, justify them, or ignore them altogether—allowing high levels of impunity to persist.

The absence of legal accountability creates fertile ground for encouraging violence against women and children, as seen in certain legislations such as Iraq’s 2025 Civil Status Law, which allows the marriage of girls starting at the age of nine. In other cases, families marry off their daughters in exchange for money to much older men, or sell children to traffickers who exploit them inside or outside Iraq.

Key Factors Contributing to the Spread of Sexual Violence

Among the most prominent factors contributing to sexual violence are: the normalization of sexual abuse through degrading language toward women and the treatment of their bodies as commodities; patriarchal systems that entrench unequal power dynamics by portraying women as submissive or as sexual tools for men; victim-blaming rather than holding perpetrators accountable—such as focusing on women’s clothing or behavior; and weak reporting mechanisms, as a large percentage of assaults go unreported, while many reported cases fail to result in deterrent punishments.

Studies indicate that only a very small fraction of sexual assault cases end in convictions, reinforcing perpetrators’ sense of impunity and encouraging the repetition of such crimes.

Normalizing Sexual Abuse: The Epstein Case as an Example

Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice released large portions of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused and convicted in sexual abuse cases and died in August 2019 in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors.

The released materials include photographs, videos, emails, and millions of pages of investigative records. Their disclosure followed a U.S. Congress decision mandating full publication by January 19 of this year.

Among the materials revealed so far are emails from 2019 between FBI employees referring to ten “potential partners” in the Epstein case, alongside three million pages, 180,000 photos, and 2,000 videos released on January 30.

Victims’ lawyers stated that mishandling of the files caused harm to the lives of approximately one hundred survivors, as email addresses and personal photos revealing the identities of potential victims were exposed. Survivors described this disclosure as “painful,” stressing that their names should never have been published nor should they be subjected to renewed investigations that expose them to further pressure and threats.

Capitalism: The Primary Enemy of Justice

These sexual crimes revealed how wealth and social connections can shield perpetrators from accountability, sparking widespread debate about justice within legal systems. Society has begun questioning whether power structures fundamentally serve the interests of elites—and whether radical reforms are necessary to ensure equal application of the law.

The capitalist system, which seeks to commodify women and children, directs society as a whole to serve its private interests—including biological ones—making it a fertile environment for expanding sexual violence, particularly against children. This system, which dominates the world, aims to normalize such crimes so they are no longer seen as abnormal or shocking.

So-called “capitalist modernity,” which promotes slogans of freedom, progress, and human rights, in essence serves power rooted in property and capital. Crimes such as those committed by Epstein reveal how these violations act as a mirror reflecting broader social crises—such as economic inequality and class discrimination—where economic disparity becomes fertile ground for all other forms of discrimination.

Islands Similar to Epstein’s Reveal Normalization of Abuse

In the Thai city of Pattaya, particularly along Walking Street, the so-called “sex tourism” industry is widespread and forms part of the city’s economy. Although illegal in Thailand, numerous reports and investigations indicate the area has become internationally notorious for sexual exploitation, attracting visitors seeking such abuse.

This example demonstrates how certain regions can become globally recognized centers for illegal practices that persist due to high demand and social or institutional tolerance—much like the Epstein case exposed sexual exploitation networks linked to money and power.

At night, Pattaya transforms into a loud tourist hub attracting both local and foreign visitors, where explicit sexual performances are openly displayed. In November 2025, a group of Kurdish female journalists from the Kurdistan Region visited the area and witnessed firsthand the public exploitation of women in the sex trade.

Credible reports also indicate that groups exploit children as young as six or seven years old, forcing them to sell flowers or beg on the same street to evoke tourists’ sympathy and extract money—an act that constitutes intimidation and exploitation.

In 2025, Thai police conducted a successful operation dismantling a human trafficking network on Walking Street, rescuing nine children believed to be potential victims and arresting several suspects. Yet despite these official efforts, the exploitation of women and children continues in Pattaya’s streets, underscoring the need for stricter law enforcement.

This phenomenon has become familiar in some tourist areas of Thailand, where poverty and the underground economy intersect with a capitalist system that turns a blind eye to the exploitation of the most vulnerable—especially children.

Pitcairn and Welsh Islands: Sexual Abuse Scandals Expose Systemic Fragility

In the Pitcairn Islands, a remote British territory in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Peru, a major case emerged in 2004 known as “Operation Nawaaza,” revealing a long-standing pattern of sexual abuse of underage girls. The case showed that a significant portion of the local community was either involved in or tolerant of these practices, drawing international attention to the island’s social and legal structures. The first investigative leads emerged in 1999 when a visiting police officer discovered the abuses, which later became a global case.

On one of Wales’ tourist islands, a clergyman was able to sexually abuse children over two decades despite what was described as “clear supervision,” with some victims experiencing repeated assaults. Independent investigations eventually ended the case—but only after years of impunity.

In 2017, The Guardian revealed that a cabin on the island had been frequented by residents and visitors since the 1970s and remained a site of sexual exploitation until the abuser’s death in 1992 without ever being prosecuted. Investigations also showed that other victims had endured similar experiences on the island.

Iraq’s Personal Status Law and the Risks of Facilitating Child Exploitation

On January 21, 2025, the Iraqi Parliament voted to amend the Personal Status Law, introducing several controversial provisions. The decision sparked widespread debate inside and outside Iraq, particularly regarding early marriage, as the amended law allows the marriage—or forced marriage—of male and female children.

This amendment, considered a blatant violation of women’s and children’s rights, opens the door to severe future consequences such as trafficking of underage girls. Some impoverished families resort to marrying off their daughters for money to older men or selling them to traffickers and exploitation networks that move girls within and beyond Iraq under the guise of marriage—only for them to later be exploited in illegal activities.

According to statements by several women’s rights activists, the passage of this law has forced many women in different Iraqi provinces to flee to cities in the Kurdistan Region in search of safer lives. However, even there, they continue to face risks of harassment and exploitation due to the lack of safe environments or job opportunities that could ensure economic and social stability—leaving them vulnerable to further abuse