Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peace Negotiations

The document argues that conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has historically been overlooked in peace talks but must be integrated into every phase of the peace process. It emphasizes broadening the lens of victims to include men and boys, who face significant social stigma and service gaps. The briefing provides specific recommendations for early-stage agreements, ceasefire negotiations, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Security Sector Reform (SSR), and transitional justice, highlighting the need for accountability, gender-sensitive security indicators, and recognition for children born of wartime sexual violence.

• Conflict-related sexual violence has been historically marginalized in peace negotiations, often dismissed as a "random and opportunistic act" or a "legitimate spoil of war". The document stresses that while primarily seen as violence against women, men and boys are also victims, facing unique social stigma and exclusion from health services that are typically aimed at women and children.
• Addressing sexual violence requires a phased approach throughout the peace process. Early-stage agreements (such as humanitarian access) can act as a deterrent and monitor patterns of violence. During ceasefire negotiations, mediators should focus on prohibiting sexual violence, promoting command responsibility, and establishing robust monitoring.
• In the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) phase, it is critical to address the specialized needs of women and girls associated with fighting forces—recognizing them as both "victims" and "actors"—and to screen out perpetrators of sexual violence before they enter national security forces. Additionally, DDR programs must monitor for gender-sensitive security indicators in receiving communities to mitigate risks like intimate partner violence.
• Security Sector Reform (SSR) offers a chance to apply a gender-sensitive lens to security through the creation of Vulnerable Persons Units, the recruitment of women, and the inclusion of women's groups in oversight bodies like the Civilian Advisory Council on Security.
• Post-conflict justice must prioritize accountability and sentencing for perpetrators, reparations for victims, and the de-stigmatization of survivors. A critical overlooked group is children born as a result of wartime sexual violence, particularly from conflicts in the 1990s in countries such as Rwanda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Colombia, and Uganda.

APA

Ahmad, N., & Tank, P. (2021). Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peace Negotiations. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b61369c5-2180-4e3a-bd69-20626dd2433a/Backgrounder 5 Ahmad and Tank 2021 _ Conflict Related Sexual Violence.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Ahmad, Neven, and Pinar Tank. Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peace Negotiations. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2021. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b61369c5-2180-4e3a-bd69-20626dd2433a/Backgrounder 5 Ahmad and Tank 2021 _ Conflict Related Sexual Violence.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ahmad |first1=Neven |last2=Tank |first2=Pinar |title=Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peace Negotiations |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=22 March 2021 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b61369c5-2180-4e3a-bd69-20626dd2433a/Backgrounder 5 Ahmad and Tank 2021 _ Conflict Related Sexual Violence.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ahmad2021addressing, author = {Ahmad, Neven and Tank, Pinar}, title = {{Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peace Negotiations}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/b61369c5-2180-4e3a-bd69-20626dd2433a/Backgrounder 5 Ahmad and Tank 2021 _ Conflict Related Sexual Violence.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }