Sexual assault has been part of the Republic of Turkey's war strategy against the Kurdish population since its inception. With the beginning of the freedom struggle, which has continued for 50 years, the state’s use of sexual assault as an instrument of terror has massively increased. Especially in the 1990s, sexual assault was systematically perpetrated in the custody of the military and the police to break down those affected, mainly women, but also men, and to destroy society. Part of this policy is also the so-called village guard system. These pro-government paramilitaries are encouraged by impunity to commit any crime. Closely involved with organised crime, they are responsible for displacements, armed attacks on civilians, threats and extortion. Besides extra-legal killings, sexual assaults are one of the most serious offences committed by village guards. Yet only a fraction of the cases is recorded. Taking advantage of social taboos, shame and fear, the village guards conceal their deeds and receive active support from the judiciary, police and military. The number of unreported cases is estimated at several hundred, which are, however, covered up by the state and the military.  The cases that cannot be covered up are brought to court, but again, these usually result in virtually no punishment. In the last two years, six rape cases became public knowledge in the province of Van, of which only one led to permanent imprisonment. The other perpetrators were released from prison after a short time.

Women's rights activist Zozan Özgökçe spoke to ANF about the crimes of village guards and the impunity of their acts. She recalled that rape has been a method of war by the village guards, the paramilitary forces and the armed or unarmed bureaucracy of the state for years. Defining the current developments as a consequence of militaristic policies, Özgökçe said: "It was the same in the 1990s. Even if the form changes, the same policy continues permanently. In the 1990s and early 2000s, psychological, physical and sexual assault was used against women, especially in prisons, to degrade and destroy them through their bodies and their Kurdishness. Such policies prevail in all four parts of Kurdistan. Saddam Hussein had special paramilitary forces responsible for the 'dishonouring of women'. This was their mission. Women have been considered booty in wars for years. Currently, there is a conflict that has been going on for years. Women are part of this conflict and are greatly affected by it."

Zozan Özgökçe recalled the case of N.Ç. in 2002 and said: "With this incident, the assaults and rapes by village guards and security forces came on the agenda and reports were published. But it happens permanently and is covered up. The judicial and legal system is getting worse and worse. In the N.Ç. incident, the perpetrators were known, but no one was arrested. That was indeed the case. There have also been recent sexual assaults by village guards. We often use the term 'recent time'. Maybe we do it to put it on the agenda. Or our social trauma is always rehashed, and we say 'recent'. But women have been experiencing this violence and impunity for years. Village guards are not arrested, there is no legal action against them. In the case of girls who are sexually assaulted, they ask about consent, about virginity. There are many kinds of sexual assaults on women, but they are analysed only on the basis of virginity. But for example, spreading rumours in the villages is also a form of violence. When a village guard or his son wants to get married, and if the girl's family doesn't want that, the village guard puts political and psychological pressure on the family."

Özgökçe continued: "Our people are thus made powerless. Because of the village guard system, people are migrating from their villages to the big cities. There is a psychological and asymmetrical war. Unfortunately, Kurdish women are more often victims, they are more vulnerable and bear more severe consequences. They pay for the consequences of the system with their lives. Everyone should be sensitive because it is a war policy. We must care for each other. We can take legal action and exert pressure as a public."

Calling for Kurdish academics, NGOs, journalists and human rights activists to conduct serious research, Zozan Özgökçe concluded: "The Kurdish people should be sensitized to this issue, girls should learn about their rights. Families must protect their children. The village guards use different methods. For example, they want to have a second wife, they want to marry off their children, but when that doesn't work, sexual assaults occur. When you put the poverty of the people into this situation, you understand the desperation in society."

The cases of sexual abuse committed by village guards in Van in the last two years are as follows:

On 23 December 2021, Faik Dural, a village guard, raped a 15-year-old girl attending Hoşap boarding school in Repetik in Gürpınar district. Based on the complaint filed by the victim's family, Faik Dural was arrested on charges of "sexual abuse of a minor". Subsequently, Dural and his relatives put pressure on the family and the victim, causing them to withdraw her complaint. The Gürpınar District Directorate of National Education also withdrew its report, claiming that the girl mentioned in the report did not attend a state school. The rapist, Faik Dural, was released after a short detention.

In 2021, a 12-year-old girl was raped by village guard Rıskı Okam in Çatak district. The incident was uncovered when the child told her class teacher about her experiences. The perpetrator was then arrested. Subsequently, the relatives of the village guard put pressure on the child's family, forcing them to leave their village. Okam was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The appeal in this case is still pending and there are fears that the Constitutional Court could overturn this sentence.

In 2022, in the village of Arîxan in Gürpınar district, the village guard Ziya Karakoç committed sexual assaults on about ten women in the village. However, these assaults were covered up by the military and political bureaucracy. Karakoç was released at the first hearing under conditions of judicial control.

On 3 February 2022, Osman Ö., a village guard who attempted to rape his two daughters in Çatak district and had threatened his wife with a gun to stop her from pressing charges, was released after a short detention.

On 18 August 2023, village guard B.A. raped a woman. B.A. was detained and taken to Köprüağzı Gendarmerie Station based on the woman's complaint.