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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SUDAN: Women Call for End to Systematic Rape in Darfur

Displaced women in camps across Darfur have expressed their anger at the recent escalation of rapes carried out by militias loyal to the Sudanese government.

Already vulnerable girls and women are repeatedly attacked when they venture out of the camps to collect firewood or water needed for everyday chores such as cooking and washing.

TURKEY: 2 500 Women Activists Travel to Istanbul for AWID Forum

More than 2,500 women from 140 countries traveled to İstanbul on Thursday for the start of the Association of Women's Rights in Development (AWID) 2012 forum.

The four-day international summit has attracted activists, journalists and scholars from across the globe to share their diverse experiences and together explore how to best move forward in channeling and reshaping economic power to advance women's rights and justice.

SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa Searches Soul Over Alleged Rape of Disabled 17 Year-Old Girl

It is a country that can seem inured to violence from sheer familiarity. But this was a crime so shocking that even South Africa has begun to search its soul.

A disabled 17-year-old girl, said to have the mental capacity of a five-year-old, was allegedly gang-raped by seven men and boys in an assault that came to light only when a mobile phone video of the brutal attack went viral online.

INTERNATIONAL: Peace Movements: Violence Reduction as Common Sense

If one thing holds the overall movement of peace movements together it is the goal of violence reduction. There's a shared conviction that violence is a choice, that there exists, much more often than commonly supposed, a more violent and a less violent course of action.

GUATEMALA: A Brutal Manifestation of Patriarchy

The involvement of women in anti-war actions and in support of peace activism worldwide is a critical part of modern history, yet the vulnerability of women in conflict situations to violence of all forms is perhaps the most brutal manifestation of patriarchy in modern times. We must probe the areas of ambivalence in women's activism for peace and human rights, argues Sunila Abeysekera.

HAITI: Haitian Justice Sector Operators Trained to Combat Sexual and Gander Based Violence

From March 7–9, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI)—in cooperation with the Haitian Ministry of Justice, the National Police Academy, the Magistrate School and the Medico-Legal Research and Action Unit (Unité de Recherche et d'Action Medico-Légale, or URAMEL)—conducted a workshop on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) for 37 judges, justices of the peace, investigative magistrates, prosecutors and poli

INTERNATIONAL: A Brutal Manifestation of Patriarchy

Militarism, Violence and Conflict is one of the themes of the AWID Forum 2012 ↑ which opens tomorrow in Istanbul with 2000 women from around the world meeting to discuss processes of ‘Transforming Economic Power to advance women's rights and justice'.

AFGHANISTAN: Extremists Poisoned Schoolgirls' Water, Officials Say

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- At least 140 Afghan schoolgirls and female teachers were admitted to a local hospital Tuesday after drinking poisoned water, said local health officials, who blamed the act on extremists opposed to women's education.

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