FRAMEWORK AND DEFINITIONS
quite broad. Drawing on statutes and
women as agents of justice and change.
case law of the International Tribunals
The recognition of women as key agents
for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda,
in conflict resolution and peace work
A number of participants emphasi-
the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the
is further underlined in UNSCR 1889
zed the importance of framing the pro-
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts
building on UNSCR 1325.
blem of SGBV adequately. The concept
of Cambodia, and the ICC Rome Statute,
relates to a broad scope of gendered
sexual violence is understood to include:
ticipants critically pointed to a tendency
violence, whereas the resolutions pas-
“rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution,
to equate the issue of SGBV in conflict
sed by the UNSC are narrower in their
forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization
and post-conflict settings with rape as
scope. The UN Action Steering Commit-
and any other form of sexual violence of
a weapon in war. While rape in conflict
tee has expressed that as gender-based
comparable gravity.” 2
and post-conflict settings threatens the
violence (GBV) includes for example
SCR 1820, 1888 and 1960 imply
security of girls and women in devas-
“the denial of economic resources”, it
strong commitments to combat conflict-
tating ways, actors engaged in fighting
is “an overly-broad category for 1960
related sexual violence and to end the
SGBV impunity must address the broad
reporting purposes.” 1 Women’s econo-
impunity for such violence. UNSCR 1888
spectrum of violations against women. In
mic rights, their rights to move freely
established a Special Representative of
addition to this, if SGBV is approached
and their rights to take part in political
the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual
too narrowly, donor agents run the risk
life are, however, crucial instruments for
Violence in Conflict, and UNSCR 1960
of attacking the symptom while failing
ending impunity for SGBV. In addition
calls for a monitoring and accounta-
to thoroughly address discriminating
to this, sexual violence in conflict and
bility system including mandating the
gender relations as one of the underlying
post conflict settings should, according
Secretary-General to “list in the annexes
problems. The UNSCR 1888 Team of Ex-
to WILPF, be understood as a component
to annual reports parties who are cre-
perts has also acknowledged this, stating
of a broader category of gender based
dibly suspected of committing or being
that: “There has been little discussion
violence. GBV as such does not only
responsible for patterns of sexual vio-
about prevention thus most prevention
occur in conflict and post-conflict set-
lence” and stating that sanctions may be
efforts have been centred on sensitiza-
tings, but in all settings including those
directed towards such parties. It is main-
tion and media activities.” 3
who are defined as peaceful. This being
tained in this report that the fight against
said, the definition of “conflict-related
impunity for SGBV must pay great atten-
by participants at the conference, all
sexual violence”, as endorsed by the
tion not only to the fact that women are
actors including donor and implemen-
UN Action Steering Committee, is still
victims of violence, but equally recognize
ting agents must coordinate their efforts
4 FROM IMPUNITY TO ACCOUNTABILITY
During the conference, several par-
Equally important, as pointed out