Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) theme focuses on the incidence and prevalence of violence against women in conflict and post-conflict settings. Polarisation of gender roles, proliferation of weapons, militarisation, and the breakdown of law influence SGBV.

The risk of SGBV is heightened during conflict by aggravating factors, including the polarization of gender roles, the proliferation of arms, the militarization of society, and the breakdown of law and order. The subsequent long-term and complex impacts of SGBV continue to affect individuals and communities after conflict ends.

SGBV is addressed in all five resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. In SCR 1888, the Security Council expresses its intention to ensure peacekeeping mandate resolutions contain provisions on the prevention of, and response to, sexual violence, with corresponding reporting requirements to the Council (OP11). The resolutions deal with protecting women from violence (1820,OP3, 8-10; 1888,OP3,12); strengthening local and national institutions to assist victims of sexual violence (1820,OP13; 1888,OP13); and including strategies to address sexual violence in post-conflict peacebuilding processes (1820,OP11). SCR 1820 also calls for the participation of women in the development of mechanisms intended to protect women from violence (OP10).

Lastly, SCR 1960 creates institutional tools and teeth to combat impunity and outlines specific steps needed for both the prevention of and protection from conflict-related sexual violence. The new “naming and shaming,” listing mechanism mandated in the Resolution is a step forward in bringing justice for victims and a recognition that sexual violence is a serious violation of human rights and international law.

Addressing SGBV is an integral aspect of the overall Women, Peace and Security agenda. SGBV affects the health and safety of women, and also has significant impact on economic and social stability. The Security Council recognises that sexual violence can threaten international peace and security, and that it is frequently used as a tactic of war to dominate, humiliate, terrorise, and displace.

For more resources on this Critical Issue, visit PeaceWomen Resource Center >>

Statement by Zainab Bangura, June 2, 2016.

Extract: 

When we think of terrorism, we think of destruction of property, killing, bombing or hostage-taking. But we cannot deplore the public violence of terrorism, while ignoring the violence terrorists inflict on women and girls in private, behind closed doors.

Statement by Zainab Bangura, June 2, 2016.

Extract: 

Sexual violence is not merely incidental, but integral, to their ideology and strategic objectives. They are using sexual violence as a means of advancing political, military and economic ends. They have used rape and forced marriage as part of the systems of punishment and reward through which they consolidate power, and to build a so-called ‘state’ cast in their own image and beliefs.

Statement by Zainab Bangura, June 2, 2016.

Extract: 

Without exception, the first sign of rising violent extremism has been the restriction on women’s rights. Extremists know that to populate a territory, and control a population, you must first control the bodies of women

Statement by ZAINAB HAWA BANGURA (SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT) at the UN Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security, 2 June 2016

20160602 SRSG Statement to SC Open Debate June 2016 FINAL.pdf

Statement by Lisa Davis (NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security) at the UN Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security, 2 June 2016

pdf-NGOWG_Statement_OpenDebate_June2016_EN.pdf

Booted: Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors

Booted_Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors_HRW.pdf

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2290: PREAMBLE (2)

Security Council Agenda Geographical Topic: 
Sudan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform
Extract: 

Strongly condemning past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving targeted killings of civilians, ethnically-targeted violence, extrajudicial killings, rape, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, violence aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population, and attacks on schools, places of worship and hospitals, as well as United Nations and associated peacekeeping personnel and objects, by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces, as well as the incitement to commit such abuses and violations, further condemning harassment and targeting of civil society, humanitarian personnel and journalists, and emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable, and that South Sudan’s TGNU bears the primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity,  

Expressing grave concern that, according to the 11 March 2016 “Report of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Assessment Mission to Improve Human Rights, Accountability, Reconciliations and Capacity in South Sudan” and the UNMISS/OHCHR 4 December 2015 report “The State of Human Rights in the Protracted Conflict in South Sudan”, the scale, intensity and severity of human rights violations and abuses have increased with the continuation of hostilities, that there continue to be reasonable grounds to believe that violations and abuses of human rights, including those involving extrajudicial killings, rape and other acts of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention, as well as violations of international humanitarian law have been committed, which may amount to war crimes and/or crimes against humanity, and stressing the urgent and imperative need to end impunity in South Sudan and to bring to justice perpetrators of such crimes,  

Concept note for the Open Debate of the Security Council on the theme “Conflict-related sexual violence: responding to human trafficking in situations of conflict-related sexual violence”" (June 2, 2016).

Concept note, June 2.pdf

WILPF proposals for committed policies with the women, peace and security agenda (Spain)

Spain will be holding new elections as of June 26, 2016, after political parties failed to reached an agreement to form government after the December 20, 2015 elections. WILPF Spain is currently calling on all political parties standing for the elections to fully implement UNSCR 1325. 

WILPF proposals for committed policies with the women, peace and security agenda

agendaMPS-elecciones2016 (2).pdf

Pages