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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COMMENTARY: Rape Culture and How it Betrays Women

In 1972, Adrienne Rich, a revolutionary poet and feminist of her time, wrote a poem called "Rape," originally published in a collection of poems titled Diving into the Wreck (1971-72). "Rape" sets the scene of a young girl sitting before a cop and reporting her rape:

OTHER: When Rape Is A Tool Of War

The raw courage demonstrated by Eman al-Obeidy in persisting in telling her story of alleged repeated gang rape and torture in Libya is helping to change the dialogue in Libya and the Middle East about the use of sexual violence as a weapon of repression.

ANALYSIS: Protecting Mexico's Lost Women: Law to Nowhere

Effectiveness of Violence Against Women Legislation: Ley General De Acceso de las Mujeres a una Vida Libre de Violencia (Law for General Access of Women to a Life Free from Violence)

CAMPAIGN/VIDEO: Discrimination Enforced by Law: Women's Struggle Around the World

“Various forms of discrimination against women not only exist in all societies, but are even codified by the very governments which should be fighting that injustice.” (Sarah Jones in Women Can't Wait)

Countries around the world have a variety of laws discriminating against women, ranging from age of marriage, nationality, freedom of movement to the right to divorce, work and retire under the same conditions as men.

NEW ORGANIZATION: The Empower Foundation Helps Haitian Women Combat Sexual Violence

"He grabbed me, stuck a gun to me. Then he and several men raped me near my daughter." Sexual assaults against women in Haiti have reached epidemic proportions since the country's devastating earthquake in January 2010.

CAMPAIGN: New Global Campaign to Prevent Domestic Violence and Abuse Launched: Targets the Abuser in 73 Languages in 100 Countries

FIRDAUS KHARAS, Chairman of Chocolate Moose Media and Culture Shift launched today a new global campaign to prevent domestic violence and abuse. The campaign targets are adaptation in 73 languages, use in 100 countries, to be viewed by 1 billion viewers.

OPINION/FILM: What Women Really Want – a Negotiated Peace

Let us be crystal clear from the start. It's never ever more Tomahawk missles.

As the U.N. Women's War and Peace page reports:

While women remain a minority of combatants and perpetrators of war, they increasingly suffer the greatest harm.

VIDEO: UN Women, Peace and Security

Margot Wallström, the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, briefed the Security Council today, discussing cases of sexual violence in several recent conflicts, including in Libya, Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On Libya, she laments that they make no mention of the risk of sexual violence.

BLOG: End impunity for U.N. Peacekeepers Who Rape and Abuse

Those who use rape as a weapon of war in volatile regions across the world must be punished, says the United Nations, but activists say the global body must also end impunity of its own peacekeepers who are guilty of such crimes.

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