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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Event: XII Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Meeting

More than one thousand of women of different characteristics in age, ethnic group, sexual tendency, national origin, social and political position, will meet in the XII Latin America and Caribbean Feminist Meeting that comes back to Colombia after 30 years, and will be held between November 23 and 26, 2011 in Bogotá city.

Launch: Make Every Woman Count

The UK Section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom(WILPF) is writing to invite you to Celebrate “WILPF Voices of African Women Campaign” First Year Achievements of the African Women's Decade(2010-2020)” and the official launch of Make Every Woman Count website www.makeeverywomancount.org which will be held in London on the 19th of July 2011.

Women in War Zones Party

When a couple of Temple graduates recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the tragedy they found in the war-tattered country was unspeakable: Take Sifa, a woman who was attacked by soldiers when she was 12, saw nine family members killed, was raped, and then, after finally escaping the armed forces, ate clay and mud for weeks to survive.

Consequences of Conflict: Tracing the Effects of Sexual Violence on Individuals, Families, and Communities in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is hosting a panel discussion that will look beyond the individual impact of sexual violence in conflict and examine the effects on families, communities, and societies from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Event Details


Lwanzo Amani, Analyst, World Bank

Kate Burns, Senior Policy Officer for Gender Equality, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance

Annual Spring Walk on May 14 and Say No to End Violence Against Women and Girls

One out of every three women worldwide is a victim of violence in her lifetime. On May 14, the Metro New York Chapter of UN Women is walking to end violence against women. The money we raise from this event goes to the UN Trust Fund to end violence against women, which has distributed more than $60 million to 317 initiatives in 124 countries since 1997. Our goal is to raise $10,000.

INVITATION: Open Session of the PSC on Sexual Violence, Women and Children in Armed Conflicts

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) will hold an open session on "Women and Children in Armed Conflicts" on Monday, 28 March 2011 at the Headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

HEARING: International Human Rights Hearing On Rape Epidemic In Haiti

This Friday, petitioners MADRE, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), CUNY School of Law and Women's Link Worldwide will testify before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Washington, DC on the crisis of sexual violence in Haiti.

Sexual Violence: The Hidden Side of the Colombian Armed Conflict

The U.S. Office on Colombia, the Open Society Foundations, and the Institute for Inclusive Security invite you to the U.S. launch of a report on sexual violence in Colombia, especially due to the armed conflict.

Gender, Conflict and Violence in Africa:Conceptualizations, Contestations

Maria Eriksson Baaz, the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala will discuss key ideas in the report “The Complexity of Violence. A critical analysis of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)”, which she has coauthored with Maria Stern.

Robin May Schott, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen, will comment on the report.

Feminist Dialogue on Militarism and Military Intervention and Candlelight Vigil

The Center for Women's Global Leadership, the Global Fund for Women, and Ipas would like to invite you join us for “A Feminist Dialogue on Militarism and Military Intervention,” on Monday, November 29th from 4:00-6:00PM at the Church Center for the United Nations (777 UN Plaza, New York, NY).

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