Publisher's Synopsis
Sexual violence in conflict is not simply a gross violation of human rights--it is also a security challenge. Such violence has consequences that increase the costs of armed conflict, rendering its management more difficult. Wartime rape fuels displacement, weakens governance, and destabilizes communities, thereby inhibiting post-conflict reconciliation and imperiling long-term stability. When committed by troops, it can represent a lack of discipline associated with weak command and control, which makes military units less effective in advancing their mission. Yet current security-sector efforts to address sexual violence in conflict are inadequate, plagued by insufficient training for peace-keepers, limited accountability through national and international judicial systems, and resource gaps. Combating conflict-related sexual violence merits a higher place on the U.S. foreign policy agenda.
