opinions or other opinions, health including HIV status, disability, age, religion, culture, socio-economic or matrimonial status, refugee or migrant status, or any other status, sexual orientation, identity or gender expression2. Explanatory Notes: Istanbul Convention, Article 3 (c); International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor, General Policy Document on sexual and sexist crimes, p. 4 (2014); Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Mrs. Rashida Manjoo, A/HRC/17/26, par. 51 (2011).politique générale relatif aux crimes sexuels et à caractère sexiste, p. 4 (2014) ; Rapport de la Rapporteure spéciale sur la violence à l’égard des femmes, ses causes et ses conséquences, Rashida Manjoo, A/HRC/17/26, para. 51 (2011). 3. 3. Consequences Sexual violence has serious consequences for victims. These consequences include but are not limited to long and short-term physical damage, such as unwanted pregnancies; gynecological complications and genital lesions; vaginal and anal tears, such as traumatic and obstetric gynecological fistula; miscarriages; forced abortions; stillborn children; chronic pain; and sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as HIV. These consequences can also include psychological consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder; denial; fear; lack of trust; low self-esteem; shame; guilt; anxiety and mood disorders, sleep disorders, loss of appetite; depression; drug abuse; self-harm and high-risk behaviour, including suicidal behaviour; isolation; decrease in or loss of sexual enjoyment; relationship problems with family, friends and partners; “honour” crimes3; trauma that is passed down through generations; the destruction of communities; as well as death. Sexual violence also has social and financial consequences which can include abandoning schooling, job loss, loss of training opportunities, financial difficulties, social exclusion, stigmatization, and difficulty in forming romantic and other personal relationships. Explanatory Notes: Mental health outcomes of rape, mass rape and other forms of sexual violence, Produced by the Human Rights in Trauma Mental Health Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, the Case of ICC Prosecutor vs. Jean Pierre Bemba Gombo, Annex A, ICC-01/05-01/08-3417-Conf-AnxA; Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences Sexuelles, Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, EngenderHealth/The ACQUIRE Project, Traumatic Gynecologic Fistula: A Consequence of Sexual Violence in Conflict Settings (2006). B. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND OBLIGATIONS OF STATES 4. The non-discrimination principle States must take the necessary measures to ensure that the rights of the victims of sexual violence are guaranteed, irrespective of their race, colour, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, profession, political opinions, and any other opinions, and health including HIV status, disability, age, religion, culture, marital status, socio-economic status, status as a refugee, migrant or any other status, sexual orientation and identity, gender expression or any other factor that could lead to discrimination against them. 2. “Gender” can be defined as the roles, behaviours, activities and traits corresponding to a social representation that is deemed appropriate for women and men in a given society. Gender identity is the gender that a person perceives that he or she belongs to and with which he or she identifies. This gender may not be the gender that was assigned at birth. As for gender expression, this means the way that a person expresses his or her gender by making use of a variety of social, behavioural, or physical codes (such as clothing, body language, or tone of voice) usually attributed to a specific gender. Gender identity and gender expression are not necessarily related. 3. A  ccording to the definition of CEDAW, “Crimes committed in the name of so-called honour are acts of violence that are disproportionately, although not exclusively, committed against girls and women because family members consider that some suspected, perceived or actual behaviour will bring dishonour to the family or community. Crimes in the name of so-called honour may also be committed against girls and women because they have been victims of sexual violence.” CEDAW/C/GC/31/CRC/C/ GC/18, par. 29. GUIDELINES ON COMBATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN AFRICA 17