The UN requires all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect people from sexual violence. However, this report by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces suggests that there has been little sharing of experiences between states regarding the measures required, or on good practice in addressing crimes of sexual violence. There needs to be a coordinated effort on strategies within the security sector to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict and in post-conflict security sector reform.
Conflict-related sexual violence occurs at the height of armed conflict, during population displacement, and continues after conflict. Although the majority of victims of sexual violence are women and girls, men and boys are also targeted in armed conflict. In many conflicts, indigenous people or people from specific population groups are targeted for sexual violence. Perpetrators of sexual violence in armed conflict include members of official armed and security forces, paramilitary groups, non-state armed groups, humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel, and civilians.
Sexual violence during conflict is an act of domination, grounded in a complex web of cultural preconceptions, in particular as regards gender roles.
- It is used to torture and humiliate people and to punish or humiliate an enemy group or community.
- Sexual violence may be encouraged or tolerated within armed groups.
- It is used strategically to advance military objectives, such as the clearing of a civilian population from an area.
- Sexual violence has grave health implications, both physical and psychological, which can include infection with HIV/AIDS.
- Many survivors have little or no access to health care and counselling services.
- Sexual violence also has serious socio-economic consequences for survivors, who are often stigmatised and marginalised.
In order for security sector institutions to improve their prevention activities and response to sexual violence in armed conflict, they should:
- cooperate and coordinate with other sectors that provide services to survivors and adopt a gender sensitive approach at all stages of response to sexual violence in conflict;
- provide gender training for all security sector personnel and promote equal participation of women to ensure that security services are able to identify and respond to the needs of all members of the community;
- develop operational protocols and procedures for assisting and supporting victims of sexual violence, including protocols for interviewing victims, investigating and documenting crimes and for referrals to health, social and legal services;
- ensure access to justice for victims, including reparations;
- determine whether special services are needed for particular groups of survivors of sexual violence, such as children, former combatants and male survivors of sexual violence;
- develop and prioritise operational strategies to prevent sexual violence in armed conflict, and develop codes of conduct prohibiting sexual abuse and exploitation by security sector personnel; and
- seek and support the participation of civil society and affected communities in responding to sexual violence.