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.

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Concept Note from Jordan: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

090415 Jordan letter of 9 April.pdf

The Role of Women in Peace and Security Processes in Africa - Atuhaire Pearl Karuhanga

The aim of this paper is to elucidate on the various roles women play in the peace and security initiatives. It shows how extreme violence that women suffer during armed conflict does not arise solely out of the conditions of war; it is directly related to the violence that exists in women's lives during peacetime. Throughout the world, women experience violence whether physical, psychological and sexual because they are women, and often because they suffer the imbalances of power relations.

Protection from Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Sex and/or Gender Identity - Erinyes Autonomous Activist Lesbians | Lesbian Feminist Network

The discrimination faced by lesbians is greater than the discrimination faced by heterosexual women because lesbians are discriminated against both as women and as lesbians. What distinguishes the human rights violations of Lesbians is based firstly on misogyny and then on homophobia. The combination of misogyny and homophobia results in an intensification of discrimination, harassment and vilification that is greater than that against heterosexual women, gay men and transgendered people.

Why Women's Leadership is Key to Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict - Institute for Inclusive Security

As the UK launched the first Global Summit to End Sexual Violence, Summit organizers pledged to “situate this issue within the broader women, peace, and security agenda,” which means engaging women not just as victims or beneficiaries but as vital partners whose leadership is integral to devised solutions. This is an important step. Only when women are fully integrated into decision making related to peace and security will we see a substantial shift against the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war.

Misogynistic Attitudes underlying the Surgical Reassignment of Intersex Infants - The UK Intersex Association (UKIA)

The West is now becoming more aware of the widespread genital modification done abroad, with attention especially centring on the highly controversial practice of "female circumcision," which involves mutilation of the labia majora and/or labia minora and clitoris. Far less publicity however is given to the practice in Western medicine of surgically reassigning an intersex infant to be an anatomical match with (what is regarded as standard) male or female, irrespective of the child’s true sex or gender identity.

Safe Home, Safe Societies: Preventing Violence against Women in the Chittagong Hill Tracts - Meghna Guhathakurta

The CHT has been a conflict zone for a long time. The non realization of all the provisions of the CHT Accord reached between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbottyo Chattogram Jana Shanghiti Samiti (PCJSS) has resulted in a failure to bring peace and stability to a region which is still ridden by old problems as much as they are
acquiring new dimensions.

Combatting Sexual Violence in Conflict: Recommendations to States at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict (10-13 June 2014) - Amnesty International

In this paper, Amnesty International sets out a series of recommendations addressed to States, urging them to take steps to entrench long-lasting commitments to tackling impunity for sexual and gender-based violence in conflict in domestic law and policy, enhance international coordination and technical assistance, and ensure the empowerment and participation of survivors of these serious crimes under international law.

Recommendations for Reviewing and Revising National Action Plans on Women, Peace, and Security - Institute for Inclusive Security

Since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, dozens of countries have created national policies—often known as national action plans or NAPs—to solidify their commitment to women, peace, and security. As these states strive for effective, impactful implementation of these plans, many, including the US, are embarking on a process of evaluating the impact of their national strategies. Drawing from the examples of several countries that have already undertaken these steps, Inclusive Security has compiled best practice recommendations for the review and revision of NAPs.

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