A/HRC/26/52 2. Impact of the crisis on the most underprivileged population groups 53. The heaviest burden of the Ivorian crisis over the past 10 years has been borne by marginalized social classes, in particular those living in low-income neighbourhoods in cities, towns and villages across the country, especially in Yopougon, the south-west and west. They have seen their houses destroyed, their wives and daughters raped and their husbands killed, tortured or imprisoned. For more than 10 years — although a large number of them have been direct victims — the social and political elites have often managed to lessen, at least for themselves, the effects of the cyclical crises that have beset Côte d’Ivoire, either by going into exile or by obtaining amnesties through political wrangling. 3. The mental state of victims 54. The psychological harm caused by the Ivorian crisis includes loss of self-esteem, loss of identity and values and the feeling of helplessness, which can lead to indiscriminate hatred, blind impulses to seek revenge and even suicide. Many victims suffered, and continue to suffer, post-traumatic stress disorder owing to the various forms of violence to which they were exposed, such as murder, torture, rape, humiliation and disappearance. Doubts as to the outcome of the legal proceedings under way cause a sense of helplessness that locks victims in their situation, removes them from society, prevents them from having faith in the justice system and the law and robs them of the ability to be full citizens and thereby build their personal and social resilience. 8 4. Impact of the crisis on the situation of children 55. Children have experienced repeated trauma as a result of the violence they suffered and the numerous horrific events they witnessed. Worse still, they themselves were often forced to perpetrate acts of violence. Their parents’ and relatives’ suffering, compounded by their own anguish, has “robbed them of part of their childhood”.9 Many had to interrupt their studies because of attacks on their schools or teachers’ flight. Some suffered sexual violence while others were denied access to hospitals and humanitarian aid.10 5. Specific situation of women 56. The physical, material, social and economic impact of the crisis is particularly severe and long-lasting for women. The socioeconomic situation of girls and women is weakened, making them even more vulnerable in a country that has not been immune to the feminization of poverty that has affected the entire subregion. Thousands of women who were in the informal sector (crafts, small-scale retail, etc.) were forced to flee their homes and abandon their work. UN-Women has drawn attention to heightened gender-based violence, including many rape cases. Many victims of sexual violence were unable to file complaints and received neither medical nor psychological care because of cultural attitudes characterized by shame and social rejection. D. Actions on behalf of victims 57. 8 9 10 12 Measures on behalf of victims can be taken by either State or non-State actors. See international conference on the situation of the victims of the Ivorian crisis, Abidjan, 12‒14 February 2014, presentation by Cécile Marotte. Ibid, presentation by Niamke N’Dri Bertin, head of child protection, UNOCI. See the serious violations of children’s rights referred to in Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed conflict. GE.14-02949