Conflict-related sexual violence : the United Nations' response and programmes

Abstract

Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a byproduct and tactic of war that has destructive effects on its victims, societies, and international, regional and national peace and security. The United Nations, as the world’s largest inter-state organization, has increased its focus on the issues surrounding CRSV in the past twenty years, and has established several UN entities tasked with addressing CRSV at all levels. This thesis seeks to analyze the development of UN Security Council resolutions and its consecutive mandates addressing CRSV, and how the United Nations in practice addresses the prevention of and protection against CRSV. It will seek to provide an overview of the intricate bureaucracy of the UN system by presenting the main entities mandated by the Security Council to coordinate and address the issue of CRSV and show how these entities address CRSV on different levels to create a holistic and efficient response. By using a feminist IR theoretical lens, this thesis will investigate how the UN includes gender perspectives in their work, and how this pans out in practice. This feminist lens will be used to look at issues of emancipation, gender equality, gender discourses, gendered security, patriarchy and masculinity to construct a theoretical framework for the research and analysis.