Inside the Imperial War Museum’s exhibition confronting sexual violence in conflict.
Unsilenced: Sexual Violence in Conflict is finishing its six-month run at the Imperial War Museum, London. It’s the first major exhibition in the UK to confront the sexual violence that so often occurs during wars. Unsilenced exposes war crimes that span centuries, giving a voice to those who deserve it most.
With its final day on November 2nd, the exhibition has stripped back the taboo of the subject and forced anyone who has visited to confront a hidden truth.
Sexual violence has always been shrouded in shame and guilt, with many victims not able to speak up about it. Unsilenced shatters those feelings, allowing them to speak with dignity. This is significant now, more than ever, as places such as Gaza and Sudan continue to experience these atrocities.
There are 162 objects on display, including never-before-seen items as well as interviews and testimonies from experts and victims. Unsilenced “investigates the different ways in which sexual violence in conflict can manifest” while also highlighting “ongoing battles for justice and reconciliation”. The testimonies are given the dignity and respect they deserve, and their trauma is not sensationalised.
The mood of the exhibition was sombre and almost completely silent, except for the sound of footsteps. Stepping into it made me feel like I was completely isolated from the outside world, only focusing on the victims’ stories.
Each room balances information with empathy, creating quiet spaces for listening and reflecting. Victims’ voices are at the centre, from the stories of the ‘comfort women’ of the Second World War to the Yezidi women and girls trafficked by ISIS.
It also explores how societies fail to respond when the conflict finishes. One section is dedicated to the lack of accountability taken by society and how victims are often blamed or erased from history.
One particularly poignant display has three people who were born as a result of sexual violence in the Bosnian war sharing their experience of being unrecognised by the state and the stigma they have faced.
Importantly, the exhibition does not leave visitors in despair. Alongside the stories of trauma and atrocity are stories of bravery and courage.
Unsilenced shines a light on those who are still fighting for accountability, including the ‘comfort women’ of the Second World War, who only just received recognition from a high court in 2023. It also highlights the work of contemporary organisations supporting survivors in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Myanmar.
What makes Unsilenced so pertinent is the fact that sexual violence in conflict persists all over the world. As conflict continues to unfold in Gaza, these war crimes continue to be committed. The exhibition serves as a reminder that these crimes are not confined to the past.
As Unsilenced draws to a close, it leaves an important legacy. The exhibition insists that sexual violence is not an afterthought in history; it’s a central part of it.
It reminds visitors that brutality extends beyond battlefields, and a wider knowledge of the topic can bring justice.
Advisory note: This exhibition features adult subject matter and is suitable for those over the age of 16.
Feature image by Emilia Birch.