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: U.S. Delegation Statement to UNHCR's Executive Committee

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sixty years ago an atmosphere of cooperation and resolve to protect those uprooted by war and persecution prevailed as States negotiated the creation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

ANALYSIS: Liberia's

Last year, I reported with the intrepid Glenna Gordon a story about Liberia's Court E, a court chamber in the capital city of Monrovia dedicated only to rape cases. The court, which will turn two in Februrary, was a direct response to what many people we met called a rape "epidemic" in Liberia. The country's post-war rape stats are sky-high, and most of the victims are young girls.

BLOG: Opinion: Violence Against Women is an Issue of National Security

It is a fact that women are living in some of the direst circumstances in situations of conflict. Not only is poverty often most severe in conflict situations, but women are frequently deliberately targeted for violence in order to fuel conflicts and undermine prospects for peace, development and human progress. Without addressing violence against women, we're not going to get people out of poverty, and we're not going to end conflicts.

STATEMENT: Introducing our New Partner: Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice

In light of our announcement this week at the Clinton Global Initiative regarding our new campaign on gender-based violence in the context of armed conflict, we wanted to provide more information on our new partner and a few of our proposed activities.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Consultant - Expert Police Trainer- Violence Against Women (VAW), Iraq

Consultant - Expert Police Trainer- Violence Against Women (VAW)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing date: 30 Sep 2010
Location: Iraq

BLOG: Iranian Women Stand Against Misogynist Ahmadinejad

There has been a concerted effort by Tehran to conflate opposition to the Iranian regime, its human rights abuses, and its inherent and deeply ingrained misogyny, with beating the drums of war. Tehran has managed to take advantage of some anti-war groups to line up support for its murderous behavior. The aim is to insinuate the notion that "if you are against the Iranian regime, you are for war with Iran."

CONFERENCE: The Clinton Global Initiative: Empowering Girls and Women

Today was Day Two of the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City. The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) was created by President Bill Clinton in 2005 to build alliances, partnerships, and collaborations between governments, the private sector, NGOs, and other global leaders to confront the world's most pressing problems.

The four main focus areas of this year's meeting are:

CALL TO ACTION: Issued by Members of the UN Secretary General's Network of Men Leaders, the Men Engage Alliance and the Athena Network

Last year the African Union declared this decade, 2010-2020 as the African Women's Decade.

Between July 30th and August 4th nearly 500 women were raped in and around the village of Luvungi in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a campaign of ongoing terror waged by armed groups who use rape as a weapon of war. To date, armed groups and soldiers from the Congolese armed forces have raped over 200,000 women.

BLOG: Consumer Power: Why We Should Demand Conflict-Free Minerals from the DRC

The laptop on which I am typing right now is the cause of great guilt. As much as GAB has posted about the armed conflict and systematic rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and as much as I have personally educated myself on the situation, my choice to spend (a lot of) money on this contraption is incongruent with these good intentions.

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