sexual violence in armed conflict from a realist perspective

Outcome 4: Survivors are able to demand their rights and access quality support and services.Outcome 3: Survivors can access justice according to their needs and preferences.Outcome 2: An environment exists that reduces the risks, effects, and perpetration of CRSV.Outcome 1: CRSV is understood as a violation of international criminal, human rights and humanitarian law and is unacceptable within communities, institutions, and society.

The theory of change is structured around 5 pathways leading to the following outcomes: Recognising that work to prevent and respond to CRSV is integral to meeting commitments set out in the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, it is designed to be read alongside the Guidance note: Implementing Strategy Outcome 3: Gender-based violence. The theory of change provides an evidence-based conceptual framework for how the UK Government and other stakeholders can contribute to addressing CRSV through diplomatic, development, humanitarian, and defence interventions.

The overall intended impact is that women, men, girls, boys, and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and sexual characteristics ( SOGIESC) are not at risk of conflict-related sexual violence and those who survive it are able to access quality support, services, and justice. This theory of change was developed in recognition of the centrality of work in addressing CRSV to the UK’s conflict, humanitarian, development, and defence objectives. CRSV undermines poverty reduction, gender equality, conflict prevention and resolution, and fuels conflict. Survivors’ families and communities are also affected, including from the discrimination, stigma, and lack of access to quality services and support for survivors. CRSV is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of and associated with an armed conflict, is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime.ĬRSV can lead to death and those who survive it experienced multiple forms of harm, such as serious and lifelong injuries, trauma, and distress.

Gender-based violence ( GBV) in conflict can take many forms, including conflict-related sexual violence ( CRSV).

Sexual violence in armed conflict from a realist perspective