Lesson 2.

5
Protection from Conflict-Related
Sexual Violence

Aim, Relevance and Learning Outcomes

Aim
To explain the duties of UN peacekeeping personnel in effectively addressing the
mandated task of preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence
(CRSV) and ensure all peacekeepers actively and effectively implement the mission
mandate to prevent and respond to CRSV.

Relevance
As peacekeeping personnel, the UN expects you to protect civilians, including from
CRSV. Lesson 2.6 explains how UN peacekeeping can better address CRSV and how
peacekeepers need to prepare for the tasks involved through pre-deployment
training.
In particular, you are expected to protect women and girls and others at risk of
CRSV in collaboration with the mission’s women’s protection advisers (WPAs).
Women and girls face many protection issues, including sexual violence, as they are
the most targeted by perpetrators.
Boys and men can also be victims and survivors of CRSV. CRSV is important for all
peacekeepers to understand.
Note that the content can be disturbing, and cultural norms differ in how openly we
speak about it.

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Slide 1

Learning Outcomes
Learners will be able to:
1. Explain CRSV as it is addressed in UN Security Council resolutions.
2. Identify CRSV as a punishable crime.
3. List actions UN peacekeeping missions take to address CRSV and be
prepared to take them when deployed to a mission.
4. Reflect on their own attitudes and mindset in relation to CRSV and commit to
maintaining UN professional standards, equipped with the knowledge in the
lesson.

Slide 2

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Lesson at a Glance

Minimum lesson duration: 45 minutes (including Learning

Activity 2.5.1).

The Lesson Pages Slides

Required Learning Activity 2.5.1: UN Peacekeeping places

4 3-4
survivors at centre of CRSV response and prevention

Definitions 5–12 5–8

Legal Framework and Security Council Resolutions 13–15 10

Guiding Principles in UN Policy and Approach to CRSV 16 11

Reinforcing Links of CRSV with a UN Mission’s other Cross-

17 12
Cutting Thematic Tasks

Importance of Attention to CRSV 18–19 13

UN Partners Leading in Addressing CRSV 19–20 14–15

Early-Warning Indicators 21–22 16

Addressing CRSV in UN Peacekeeping 22–25 17–18

Roles and Responsibilities at Mission Level 25–32 19–24

What Individual Peacekeepers Can Do 32–34 25–27

Lesson Closing 35 28

Handout - Summary of Key Messages 36–38 -

Optional Learning Activities

Optional Learning Activity 2.5.2: CRSV or Not?

See 2.5 Learning
Support
Optional Learning Activity 2.5.3: Responding to CRSV

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Trainer Tips: See 2.5 Learning Support for tips on starting

the lesson, required learning activity instructions, optional
learning activities and learning evaluation.

The Lesson

Learning Activity 2.5.1

Slide 3

UN Peacekeeping places survivors at the centre of conflict-related sexual

violence response and prevention

Method UN Video (Slide 4), guided discussion

To provide an overview of the current UN approach to conflict-related

sexual violence (CRSV), as a self-directed learning activity, to
Purpose
introduce or to close the lesson or as part of learning evaluation (as
the trainer decides)

Time 20 minutes

See 2.5 Learning Support for instructions.

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Definitions

Slide 5

Key Message 1: The term conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) refers to acts of sexual violence with a direct or
indirect link to a conflict. Common forms are rape, sexual
slavery, forced marriage, forced prostitution, among other equally
serious forms.

Slide 6

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 Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Key Message 2: Direct and indirect links between sexual violence

and violent conflict help to identify conflict-related sexual violence
(CRSV).
• Direct links include when and where the sexual violence
occurs, and the profile of perpetrators and victims and
survivors
• Indirect links include situations where armed perpetrators
may profit from a context of impunity to commit sexual
violence.

The Core Concept – CRSV Defined

The UN Security Council has mandated UN peacekeeping operations to prevent and
respond to CRSV. All UN peacekeepers have a role in responding to this mandated
task. Women’s protection advisers in UN missions are tasked with advising all
mission components on CRSV prevention and response. They also monitor and
analyse sexual violence and identify patterns of CRSV.
CRSV in a peacekeeping context refers to grave forms of sexual violence directly
linked to a conflict.
CRSV is a crime that is preventable and punishable under international human
rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law.

Key Message 3: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is

prevalent in current conflicts and is frequently used as a weapon or
tactic of war or terror to weaken the enemy or control territory or
resources. Such violence has long lasting effects that undermine
peace and security. Individuals, communities and societies
are affected immediately and in the long-term. The UN
Security Council condemns CRSV and calls for stronger efforts
to end it.

Additional criteria help determine whether an act of sexual violence is conflict-

related – including the profiles of the perpetrators and victims or survivors.
The term CRSV also covers trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual
violation.
CRSV is directly or indirectly connected to conflict or political troubles. It can be and
has been used as a tactic of war or terror.
CRSV is often widespread in contexts where the conflict has led to the breakdown of
law and order. Armed perpetrators may profit from a context of impunity to commit
sexual violence. The most current definition of CRSV can be found in the 2023
Report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence.

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Reference
• Security Council, Conflict-related Sexual Violence, Report of the
Secretary-General S/2023/413, 22 June 2023.

Trainer Tips: The foundation part of this lesson necessarily covers

concepts and definitions. These are essential building blocks in
strengthening peacekeepers’ capacity to:
• Communicate with partners and the community accurately
• Respond and behave as required.

The lesson presents key differences between CRSV and other concepts
in a step-by-step way. The first explanations are of the direct primary
relationship between CRSV and sex and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Relationship between Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and Sexual

and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)

Slide 7

Different forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) happen at the same
time in settings affected by conflict. To prevent and respond to CRSV, it is
important to understand how such violence is different from other forms of SGBV
against civilians. The following explanation will help you to understand later parts of
the lesson too.

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CRSV is one form of SGBV:

• CRSV refers to acts of sexual violence with a direct or indirect link to a
conflict. Common forms include rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced
prostitution and forced pregnancy.
• SGBV is any type of violence directed against individuals or groups based on
their sex or gender. SGBV affects women and girls most often, but anyone
can be a victim.

Slide 8

Key Message 4: The Security Council recognizes conflict-related

sexual violence (CRSV) as an independent issue of concern for
peacekeeping because it is:
• Conflict-related
• Recognized as an issue of peace and security
• Relevant to the Security Council
• A violation of international law (international human rights
law (IHRL), IHL and international criminal law (ICL)).

Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) uses physical and psychological force, threats,
inducements, deception and extortion for sexual purposes. SEA is covered in Lesson
3.2 Conduct and Discipline and Lesson 3.3 Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Harmful traditional practices violate human rights but have been happening for
such a long time that people may consider them part of a culture and a cultural
norm.

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Examples – Harmful traditional practices

• Child marriage
• Female genital mutilation (also known as female genital cutting)

Female genital mutilation is sometimes wrongly called female circumcision. Some

harmful traditional practices can be or can lead to CRSV, such as forced marriages.

Slide 9

Key Message 5: The use of conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) is powerful and destructive. Peacekeeping personnel must
know the context and realities on the ground, especially:
• Civilians subject to particular risks
• Situations that increase vulnerability
• Perpetrators of CRSV
• Whether perpetrators have capacity to act on threats
• Local community protection strategies.

Broadly, survivors are often targeted due to their actual or perceived:

• Political, ethnic or religious group affiliation
• Sexual orientation and gender identity.

Populations are at higher risks of CRSV during displacement within a country or

across borders.

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Trainer Tips: Against the background of definitions and explanations

provided, before moving on in the lesson, pause and ask learners to
reflect and suggest in what situations they think CRSV usually happens.
A number of specifics are covered in Learning Activity 2.6.1, so if the
film was assigned as a self-directed preparatory activity or used to
introduce CRSV coverage, remind learners to refer back to specific
examples of high risk for CRSV noted in the film (mainly the third bullet
point in the list below, “Ambush of women and girls during routine daily
tasks and survival activities” – using roads to go to and from market or
to get water or firewood.) Build on their suggestions and reinforce
accurate ones as you cover related content.

CRSV usually happens during:

• Targeted attacks against villages and towns
• Attacks on internally displaced person (IDP) or refugee camps or protection
sites and safe havens
• Routine daily tasks and survival activities, for example, when women are
farming, going to markets, getting water and firewood, and passing road
checkpoints
• House-to-house searches
• Abduction, kidnapping, hostage-taking
• Predatory attacks
• After withdrawal, vacation or rotation of troops
• Before arrival of the opposing armed group or national security or UN forces
(the military strategy to destroy useful buildings and resources before the
arrival of another force is called a scorched earth policy).
• Times of increased vulnerabilities, for example, political strife and
displacements
• Abduction and forced recruitment of boys and girls
• Punitive strikes or retribution against rival communities and groups
• Detention, as torture and intimidation
• Attacks on religious or cultural institutions and monuments, affecting
residents and the surrounding population.

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Trainer Tips: Consider pausing in delivering new content delivery to

check that the learners are absorbing the material. In rapid
brainstorming, ask learners to name the different forms of CRSV that
may threaten civilians. Note the points they raise on a flipchart sheet or
board and then complete the list if any are missing: rape, sexual
slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced
sterilization and forced marriage. Use these moments to pause and
reflect back regularly when covering demanding content, to reinforce
absorption and retention by engaging learners in revisiting and
reinforcing sets of key content.

CRSV threats to civilians can come from State actors (e.g. military, police) and non-
State (e.g. rebel group) actors.

Trainer Tips: With the images of main perpetrators of CRSV in mind,

pause again and encourage learners to reflect on the reasons for
conflict-related sexual violence in situations of armed conflict and
instability. Although the crimes are sexual in nature, sex is not the
primary motivation. The reason is typically directly linked to the
conflict. Note the key words suggested in learner responses and use the
following list and the examples that follow to provide more
comprehensive coverage.

Perpetrating CRSV can have different motives. Examples include:

• Control of a population through terror and intimidation.
• Control of territory - vital terrain, cities, trade routes – including through
forced displacement.
• Control of natural resources, for example, mining areas.
• Deliberate targeting of ethnic or religious communities as part of political
repression, sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing. The goals are to change
the ethnic or religious makeup of a group, prevent further growth, spread
HIV or to dehumanize the victims.
• Humiliation of men and women through rape and forced incest in the
presence of family or community members.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Examples
Military Tactics
• South Sudan: allied militias raped women and girls as part of a
campaign to drive opponents out of southern Unity State.
Dehumanizing Combatants
• Somalia: Al Shabaab used sexual violence as a ritual initiation
process to cut the bonds of new recruits to civil society.
CRSV against men, boys and LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
or intersex) persons
• Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and
South Sudan: reported incidents include rape, gang rape, forced
nudity and other forms of inhumane and degrading treatment,
mainly in villages and detention facilities.
CRSV to consolidate territory and economies
• Democratic Republic of Congo: armed groups operating in the
eastern DRC abducted and sexually assaulted civilians to drive
them from contested areas in order to gain control of natural
resources and mining sites.
Reward for engaging in fighting and as punishment against rival ethnic
groups
• South Sudan: abduction of women and girls for purposes of
exploitation with rape and gang rape.
Incentives to combatants and financial incomes
• Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Da’esh): used
sexual slavery as a pull factor to recruit. Combatants were
promised wives (in forced marriage) as an incentive for joining the
group.
CRSV in the context of migration and trafficking
• Libya: In 2018, the UN Support Mission in Libya documented
accounts by migrant women and girls who were victims or
witnesses to sexual violence by smugglers, traffickers, members of
armed groups and Ministry of Interior officials during their journey
through Libya and in migrant detention centres.

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Legal Framework and Security Council Resolutions

Slide 10

Both international law and UN Security Council resolutions form the normative
framework on CRSV. States have the primary responsibility to prevent, investigate,
trial and provide reparations in relation to CRSV.
There are three areas in which international law deals with acts of CRSV.

International human rights law (IHRL) is applicable when:

• Sexual violence is committed by a public official, at his or her instigation, or
with his or her consent;
• The State fails to ensure that sexual violence is effectively investigated or
fails to enforce measures;
• The State fails on due diligence to protect persons from sexual violence by
non-State actors.

International humanitarian law (IHL) applies to international and non-

international armed conflicts and prohibits rape, enforced prostitution and other
forms of sexual violence or indecent assault on civilians.
International criminal law and the Rome Statue of the International
Criminal Court (ICC) cover war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of
genocide and the crime of aggression.

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Key Message 6: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) violates

international humanitarian, human rights and criminal laws. Many
national laws also make CRSV a crime.

CRSV violates international law. It is a gross violation of IHRL and a grave breach of
IHL. It also violates international criminal law and international refugee law.
CRSV is also a crime in most national legal systems. When sexual violence is part of
a threat to international peace and security, it does not remain in the domestic
jurisdiction of the State.
CRSV often happens in conjunction with other serious crimes. Measures to prevent
and respond to CRSV and these crimes work better when they are taken together.
Security Council resolutions recognize that the deliberate use of sexual violence as
a tactic of war worsens armed conflict and undermines peace and reconciliation.

Trainer Tips: Consider preparing a timeline highlighting the evolution

of the UN CRSV agenda through key Security Council resolutions. Such
a timeline can usefully also include key dates associated with child
protection and protection of civilians. Learners do not need to learn the
numbers or specifics of CRSV related Security Council resolutions.
The purpose of including the resolutions in the lesson is as a
background reference for trainers, particularly if learners raise
questions, and to reinforce how continuing attention to the topic has
strengthened the agenda over time. The list has been prioritized and is
not comprehensive.

Key Message 7: The Security Council agenda on conflict-related

sexual violence (CRSV) and mission mandates are informed by
key resolutions. These resolutions recognize CRSV as a threat to
international peace and security and as a block to peace. They
guide UN field missions in promoting and responding to CRSV,
e.g. through enhanced reporting and holding perpetrators
accountable.

Security Council Resolutions on CRSV

• Resolution 1325 (2000): recognized the differential and disproportionate
impact of conflict on women and girls.
• Resolution 1820 (2008): Recognized that widespread, systematic use of
sexual violence in conflict as a tactic of war is a threat to international peace
and security and is a war crime.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

• Resolution 1888 (2009): Established the Office of the Special

Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
(SRSG-SVC), requested the deployment of WPAs, demanded that
peacekeeping mandates contain provisions on the prevention of and
response to CRSV and put in place the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law
and Sexual Violence in Conflict.
• Resolution 1960 (2010): Established monitoring, analysis and reporting
arrangements on CRSV and called for commitments by parties to a conflict to
prevent and address sexual violence.
• Resolution 2242 (2015): Recognized that sexual and gender-based
violence is part of the strategic objectives and ideologies of certain terrorist
groups and is used as a tactic of terrorism.
• Resolution 2331 (2016): Stressed that sexual and gender-based violence
during conflict and post-conflict situations can be used as a tactic by violent
extremist or terrorist groups.
• Resolution 2467 (2019): Acknowledged that the gender inequality and
discrimination that is built-in to society are root causes of sexual violence
and highlighted that response to victims and survivors should be
multidimensional and survivor centred.

In 2024, there were three active missions that were specifically mandated by the
Security Council to prevent and respond to CRSV: MINUSCA, MONUSCO and
UNMISS. Until it ended in June 2023, MINUSMA also had such a mandate.

Missions with a CRSV mandate are specifically tasked by the Security Council to:
• Prevent CRSV
• Deter perpetrators
• Protect vulnerable civilians
• Neutralize threats.

The mandates of such missions may also cover:

• Protection of women and children affected by armed conflict, including
through deployment of child protection advisers (CPAs) and WPAs
• Monitoring, investigation, reporting and prevention of human rights violations
and abuses committed against children and women, including all forms of
sexual violence in armed conflict
• Trying to identify and prosecute perpetrators.

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 Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Guiding Principles in UN Policy and Approach to

CRSV

Slide 11

Do no harm: In all interactions with victims and survivors of CRSV, United Nations
personnel should be aware of the potential risk of further harm to victims and
survivors.
Confidentiality: It is essential for the protection of victims and survivors and their
families and witnesses that information about who they are be protected. Recorded
information, including the identity of survivors and witnesses, must be kept safe.
Informed consent: Informed consent means that victims and survivors of CRSV
must always be asked to agree on the use of the information they provide. This
means explaining the principle of confidentiality, the intended use of the
information and how the information will be protected.
Gender sensitivity: All personnel should be respectful and use non-discriminatory
language.
Victim/Survivor-centred approach: Victims and survivors of CRSV and their
individual rights and needs belong at the centre of all preventive efforts and
responses by field missions.
Best interest of the child: In all actions and decisions concerning children, the
best interest of the child is the most important thing.

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Reinforcing CRSV Links with a UN Mission’s other

Cross-Cutting Thematic Tasks

Slide 12

Key Message 8: The conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV)

mandate is cross-cutting and intersects with other mandated
tasks of UN field missions, namely protection of civilians (POC),
child protection and human rights. It also intersects with the
women, peace and security (WPS) agenda. These links are
important.

Overlapping and Complementary Thematic Tasks

The CRSV mandate is cross-cutting and intersects with other mandated tasks of UN
field missions and other security agendas. Missions are expected to prevent and
respond to CRSV based on their responsibilities in the following areas:
• The human rights mandate: Sexual violence is recognized as a human
rights violation and a breach of IHL. For more details, see Lesson 2.3.
• The protection of civilians (POC) mandate: CRSV represents a serious
and common threat to civilians so combating CRSV links closely to work on
POC. For more details, see Lesson 2.4.
• The child protection mandate: Many CRSV victims are under 18. For more
details, see Lesson 2.6.
• Women, Peace and Security (WPS): The WPS agenda is formed by a
series of Security Council resolutions that have been passed since 2000. The
CRSV agenda emerged from the Security Council resolutions that form the
WPS agenda. There is therefore a strong relationship between WPS and
CRSV. For more details, see Lesson 2.7.

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Importance of Attention to CRSV

Even with so many challenging mandated tasks and priorities to address,
preventing and responding to CRSV is given priority attention because of its
immediate and long-term consequences.

Slide 13

Key Message 9: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has

immediate and long-term devastating consequences.
Helping and empowering victims and survivors, witnesses and
community and taking a survivor-centred approach are key.

Reviewing the effects of CRSV on individuals and communities reinforces why this
topic is so important to peace and security.
• The Security Council recognizes that the deliberate use of sexual violence as
a tactic of war makes armed conflict worse.
• CRSV also works against peace and reconciliation.
• There is widespread impunity for acts of sexual violence.
• Women and girls face increased risks of physical assaults and vulnerability to
sexual and other exploitation. All forms of violence, including sexual
violence, have immediate and long-term effects.
• Experiences are traumatic. The effects of CRSV on survivors are debilitating,
complex and long lasting. Possible long-term effects of sexual violence
on victims and survivors include:
‒ Physical and psychological damage, including injuries to reproductive
and urinary systems and post-traumatic stress.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

‒ Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

Sometimes this is deliberate as, e.g. in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
‒ Unwanted pregnancy and community rejection.
• Effects on children born as a result of CRSV are particularly harsh.
Children are often barred from essential cultural and familial networks.

CRSV may be widespread but invisible, making prevention challenging. It may

be underreported because of poor security, lack of faith in the rule of law and
cultural barriers linked to shame, stigma and fear.

UN Partners Leading in Addressing CRSV

Combating CRSV requires the involvement of the UN, international community, host
State and other protection partners, as well as all parties to the conflict. The host
State has the primary responsibility to address, combat and prevent CRSV and
other human rights violations, as its duty in the international human rights
framework.
A number of different UN partners contribute.

Key Message 10: Combating conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) requires a holistic and comprehensive approach. Holistic
means looking at the whole issue, not just a part. Comprehensive
means including all parts. Everyone has a responsibility to combat
CRSV, including the parties to the conflict.

UN HQ Coordination on CRSV

Slide 14

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As part of a unified approach, key entities support field missions on CRSV.

• Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence
in Conflict (SRSG-SVC): appointed by the Security Council, this role gives
political direction and serves as a global advocate on CRSV.
• UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action): a network
of 24 UN entities, united in the goal of ending sexual violence during and in
the wake of armed conflict.
• The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
(UN Women).

Slide 15

• Department of Peace Operations (DPO): DPO provides missions with

technical and operational support to implement their mandate to prevent and
respond to CRSV. DPO leads the development of policy, guidance and
training material for peacekeepers on CRSV.
• Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict:
mandated by the Security Council to give legal and judicial advice on
combating CRSV when invited by a host State. The team provides expertise
on the rule of law (ROL) and CRSV to missions.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Early-Warning Indicators

Signs for Peacekeepers Alert to CRSV

CRSV incidents rarely happen in isolation or without early-warning signs. CRSV
often takes place along with other forms of violence that may be more publicly
visible. Understanding the CRSV on time and in a reliable way helps a mission
respond quickly to reported threats. Early-warning indicators help to recognize
potential, impending and ongoing sexual violence and to prepare timely responses.

Key Message 11: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is often

not reported so can be invisible even if it is widespread. It is
necessary to detect CRSV as early as possible. Be alert to early-
warning indicators or signs for CRSV. Report them immediately to
women’s protection advisers (WPAs) and the human rights
component.

Slide 16

Key Message 12: Early-warning indicators of conflict-related

sexual violence (CRSV) include abductions, killing and
recruitment to armed groups of women, girls and boys; public
incitement to violence against women; retaliatory attacks against
civilians; armed actors raiding homes and an increase in harmful
traditional practices such as forced marriages.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Examples - Early-Warning Indicators on CRSV

Certain patterns of behaviour serve as early-warning indicators or signs
that can help UN personnel identify and respond to CRSV:
• Women, girls and boys are regularly abducted by or recruited to
armed groups
• Public incitement to violence against women occurs - especially
against particular ethnic, religious or other groups
• Women are systematically reported being abducted or killed by
armed groups or security forces
• Women and girls need to or are forced to venture alone on roads
and fields for daily tasks in insecure areas
• Retaliatory attacks occur against the civilian population for
perceived support and collaboration with the enemy
• Armed actors undertake house raids and searches, particularly
where women are alone in the home
• Harmful traditional practices towards women and girls increase,
such as forced marriages.

Peacekeepers who detect risks of sexual violence incidents should report

immediately to WPAs and the human rights component. Sometimes, a single case
or allegation of sexual violence may be an indicator of widespread sexual violence.
It is important to report all alerts rapidly. Being alert to early-warning indicators
and signs of CRSV help a mission respond quickly and appropriately.

Addressing CRSV in UN Peacekeeping

Slide 17

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Priority objectives of UN missions in addressing CRSV – PEACE

UN field missions pursue five interlinked mutually reinforcing objectives in
addressing CRSV, known as the PEACE approach:
• P - prevention and protection of persons facing CRSV risk
• E - ending impunity for CRSV
• A - awareness and condemnation of CRSV
• C - capacity of national actors to effectively address CRSV
• E - empowerment of victims and survivors.

Key Message 13: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a

preventable and punishable crime. UN missions support
prevention and protection responses, and address impunity by
helping the host State bring CRSV perpetrators to justice.

Trainer Tips: Take a pause in the lesson for a midpoint reflection and
interim summary. Give participants several minutes to think back on
the information presented. Ask if anyone has questions. Invite and
respond to those. Note that the rest of the lesson focuses on actions
the UN takes on CRSV at mission level. Ask learners what they think is
necessary to combat CRSV successfully. Use the five points in the next
section as prompts and to bridge into the next part of the content.

The following are crucial for combating CRSV effectively:

• Situational awareness and analysis
• Gender-sensitive early-warning
• Operational readiness
• Committed leadership
• Committed peacekeeping personnel.

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Slide 18

Key Message 14: The work of UN Missions on conflict-related

sexual violence (CRSV) is guided by the principles of do-no-harm,
a survivor-centred approach, confidentiality, informed consent
and gender sensitivity. The victims and survivors of CRSV, is at
the centre of all prevention and response efforts of peacekeeping
missions.

The UN follows a multisectoral model for assisting victims and survivors of gender-
based violence, including CRSV.

Multisectoral services usually include:

• Medical services
• Psychosocial services
• Socioeconomic support
• Legal services.

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Slide 19

Key Message 15: The UN Country Team (UNCT) and

humanitarian country team (HCT) coordinate services for
survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and the
mission helps with the referral of survivors to these services.

Referral systems must respect the survivor-centred approach and recognize that
survivors may choose not to access the available services. Personnel can obtain
information on existing referral pathways in the different mission settings through
the CRSV focal points or WPAs.

Roles and Responsibilities at Mission Level

Slide 20

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Mission-Wide Coordinated Approach

All components in a peacekeeping operation need to coordinate the response to
CRSV.
The human rights component often includes a thematic CRSV unit comprised of
dedicated specialized expertise on CRSV. The unit is headed by the senior women’s
protection adviser (SWPA), who guides the CRSV-specific work of the human rights
component and the rest of the mission.
If WPAs are not present, the human rights component appoints CRSV focal points to
ensure the implementation of the mandate.

Slide 21

Key Message 16: In countries where conflict-related sexual

violence (CRSV) is an issue, the UN deploys dedicated experts,
following Security Council resolution 1888. Women’s protection
advisers (WPAs) lead and coordinate the mission’s CRSV work.

The Women’s Protection Adviser (WPA)

The WPA:
• Advises mission leadership on integrating CRSV issues in planning and
implementation of the mission mandate
• Provides guidance to civilian, military and police components on integrating
or mainstreaming CRSV issues in all mandated mission tasks
• Establishes monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on CRSV with
UN partners

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

• Promotes local ownership and prevention strategies on CRSV through

advocacy, sensitization, capacity-building and training activities at the
community level.
• Engages parties to a conflict in dialogue for commitments to prevent and
respond to incidents of CRSV
• Strengthens coordination on the CRSV mandate with the UNCT and other
partners
• Delivers training and builds capacity on CRSV and root causes of violence in
mission context
• Builds integrated mission capacity to address CRSV with military, police and
civilian substantive units.

Roles of Mission Components

Slide 22

Key Message 17: Military, police and civilian components play a

critical role in implementing conflict-related sexual violence
(CRSV) mandates. They work together on this as they do on other
protection mandates in integrated missions: no-one works alone.
Peacekeepers are expected to be familiar with the
responsibilities of their respective component and section.

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Roles of UN Military and Police

Slide 23

UN military and police:

• Proactively prevent CRSV
• Deter perpetrators
• Protect civilians, especially women and children
• Neutralize CRSV threats - potential, impending and continuing threats.

These critical roles of UN military and police apply to CRSV, child protection and
POC mandates. Uniformed peacekeepers work together and are responsible for:
• Physical protection, including use of force and targeted patrols
• Proactive approach
• Monitoring and reporting
• Investigations.

Roles of Mission Components

Addressing CRSV is a whole-of-mission responsibility. It needs integrated planning,
preparations and action by military, police and civilian components along with other
partners. Missions address CRSV with other human rights violations and abuses,
not separately. Military, police and civilian components in field missions should all
have dedicated focal points on CRSV.

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In the case of military and police, dedicated functions on CRSV include:

• The force gender and protection adviser
• UN Police gender adviser
• CRSV focal points.

Military Component
The role of the military component is to:
• Establish a protective security environment by conducting targeted patrols,
capacity-building national forces, and so on
• Provide physical protection and take direct military action when civilians are
at risk of CRSV
• Support WPAs’ activities by providing escorts and conducting road clearance,
and so on
• Advocate with State and non-State actors on CRSV, including facilitating
access for WPAs
• Provide emergency medical assistance to victims and survivors.

All this should be done while taking advice from WPAs and humanitarian actors.

Police Component
The role of the police component is to:
• Prevent and investigate CRSV through policy development, training and
investigations when UN Police have a mandate to build the capacity of the
host State police
• Prevent and address CRSV in community-oriented and intelligence-led
policing
• Support the establishment of specialized SGBV units and victim referral
pathways in high-risk areas
• Include CRSV issues in national police oversight and accountability
mechanisms.

Specialized UN police teams dedicated to addressing SGBV including CRSV support

the capacity development of the national police service. UN police have dedicated
units covering SGBV and CRSV and these should be staffed with a significant
number of women officers.

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Example - MONUSCO
In 2021, MONUSCO provided a range of support measures that resulted
in actions by key partners:
• UNPOL and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual
Violence in Conflict supported the national police with the
operationalization of a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Case
Management and Archive System in 12 locations and the
establishment of 10 gender desks in police stations across the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. This increased the effectiveness
of the national police in processing and investigating cases
• The Senior WPA of MONUSCO provided technical assistance to the
President’s Coordinator on Youth, the Fight against Violence
against Women and Trafficking in Persons to assess progress
made on the CRSV national action plans for the army and police.
• The national armed forces and police signed deeds of
commitments on CRSV following training sessions facilitated by
MONUSCO as part of efforts to support the authorities to
implement national action plans on CRSV.

Slide 24

Key Message 18: All components and units in a UN mission

contribute to addressing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in
their daily tasks, in different ways, within a coordinated whole-of-
mission approach.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Other mission components contributing to addressing CRSV include:

• SRSG/Head of Mission
• Deputy SRSGs (DSRSGs)
• Human rights component
• Political affairs and civil affairs sections
• Gender unit and gender adviser
• Justice and corrections components
• SSR component
• Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) component
• Public information component
• POC advisers and Child protection advisers
• Joint operation centre (JOC) and Joint mission analysis centre (JMAC)

Examples
MINUSCA Example of integrated and coordinated efforts in support of
accountability for CRSV
• MINUSCA provides ongoing assistance to the national Joint Rapid
Response Unit to Prevent Sexual Violence against Women and
Children (UMIRR) in Bangui with an integrated and coordinated
approach that leverages the expertise of WPAs, the UNPOL
Specialized Police Teams on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,
Justice and Corrections, the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law
and Sexual Violence in Conflict and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), among others.
• In October 2021, MINUSCA and partners also facilitated the
deployment of judicial actors to conduct further investigations of
sexual violence crimes in Kaga-Bandoro. Financial partners
provided assistance towards geographical expansion of a
specialized police unit investigating SGBV crimes (called UMIRR) to
Bouar, one of the CRSV hotspots in the country, to enable further
investigations into violations by armed groups.

MONUSCO, An Integrated Approach to Accountability - The Sheka Case

• In November 2020, Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka and Seraphin Lionso, the
leaders of Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC) and Democratic Forces
for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), were convicted of war crimes
and crimes against humanity following a trial in Goma, in the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

• The civilian, police and military components of MONUSCO and a

collective of international and national partners came together in a
Task Force and played a critical role at every stage of the process
for justice for victims of human rights violations and survivors of
CRSV. Their work included supporting national authorities in the
investigation and prosecution of these cases and in calling the trial.

What Individual Peacekeepers Can Do

Key Message 19: All UN peacekeepers have a duty to act to

protect civilians, including from sexual violence. When facing
situations where conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is
occurring or risk of it exists, peacekeepers need to act in
coordination with women’s protection advisers or the
human rights component.

Dos and Don’ts on CRSV for UN Peacekeepers

Strengthening knowledge and capacity to implement UN policy on CRSV includes
knowing what not to do as well as what to do. The following describes what
peacekeepers need to do, what they can do and what they are not to do in relation
to CRSV.
What all UN peacekeepers can and are encouraged to do relating to CRSV:
• Support and encourage local authorities in addressing and combating CRSV.
• Consult women and men of different ages when making security and political
assessments of local communities.
• Talk to women and men separately to understand their specific concerns.
Have female peacekeeping personnel member engage with local women. Talk
to young people, with the support of their adult caregivers.
• Proactively prevent CRSV, deter perpetrators and protect civilians, especially
women and children.
• Be ready to respond when threats are observed. Be mindful of potential and
actual threats.
• Share information with WPAs and/or the human rights components, mission
leadership and relevant units about where and when sexual violence is taking
place and who the alleged perpetrators are.
• At all times, peacekeepers must do no harm.
• Be informed about which structures provide assistance to victims and
survivors of sexual violence and share information with victims and survivors
if they want it.

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Slide 25

What UN peacekeepers need to do if they encounter an incident of CRSV:

• Check the survivor’s and any witnesses' immediate security, taking them to
safety if needed and if they agree.
• Provide immediate assistance (first aid/MEDEVAC) in case of emergency.
• Share information with the survivor and any witnesses on locally available
medical and assistance services.
• Report immediately to the commanding officer and WPA or human rights
component, including the following information:
‒ Short description of what happened
‒ Date, time and location (being specific)
‒ Number, age, sex of civilians and survivors
‒ Profile of perpetrators
‒ Health condition of civilians and survivors
‒ Actions taken by the mission so far
‒ Contact details of the source of information (only with informed consent).

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Slide 26

Slide 27

What UN peacekeepers must not do when encountering CRSV:

• Do not disclose personal information of victims, survivors, children or
witnesses, or reveal their identities
• Do not take photos or videos of victims, survivors, children or witnesses
• Do not hand over children to anyone except child protection actors
• Do not interview survivors or victims or investigate incidents if you are
uniformed personnel because these actions are part of the role of the
mission’s human rights component
• Do not follow up a CRSV incident because this is the role of the WPAs or
human rights or child protection components.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Lesson Closing

Slide 28

Trainer Tips: If you have time, summarize the lesson, recalling the
aim and learning objectives. Mention that the key messages support
the learning objectives. Ask participants if they have questions. Ensure
you distribute the Handout – Summary of Key Messages to all
participants.

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Lesson 2.5 Protection from Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Handout - Summary of Key Messages

Key Message 1: The term conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) refers to

acts of sexual violence with a direct or indirect link to a conflict. Common
forms are rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage and forced prostitution, among
other equally serious forms.

Key message 2: Direct and indirect links between sexual violence and violent
conflict help to identify conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
• Direct links include when and where the sexual violence occurs, and the
profile of perpetrators and victims and survivors
• Indirect links include situations where armed perpetrators may profit from
a context of impunity to commit sexual violence.

Key Message 3: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is prevalent in current

conflicts and is frequently used as a weapon or tactic of war or terror to weaken the
enemy or control territory or resources. Such violence has long lasting effects that
undermine peace and security. Individuals, communities and societies are
affected immediately and in the long-term. The UN Security Council condemns
CRSV and calls for stronger efforts to end it.

Key Message 4: The Security Council recognizes conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) as a self-standing issue of concern for peacekeeping because it is:
• conflict-related
• recognized as an issue of peace and security
• relevant to the Security Council
• a violation of international law (international human rights law (IHRL),
international humanitarian law (IHL), and international criminal law (ICL))

Key Message 5: The use of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is powerful and
destructive. Peacekeeping personnel must know the context and realities on the
ground, especially:
• Civilians subject to particular risks
• Situations that increase vulnerability
• Perpetrators of CRSV
• Whether perpetrators have capacity to act on threats
• Local community protection strategies.

Key Message 6: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) violates international

humanitarian, human rights and criminal laws. Many national laws also make CRSV
a crime.

Key Message 7: The Security Council agenda on conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) and mission mandates are informed by key resolutions. These resolutions
recognize CRSV as a threat to international peace and security and as a block to
peace. They guide UN field missions in promoting and responding to CRSV, e.g.
through enhanced reporting and holding perpetrators accountable.

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Key Message 8: The conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) mandate is cross-

cutting and intersects with other mandated tasks of UN field missions, namely
protection of civilians (POC), child protection and human rights. It also intersects
with the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda. These links are important.

Key Message 9: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has immediate and

long-term devastating consequences. Helping and empowering victims and
survivors, witnesses and community and taking a survivor-centred approach are
key.

Key Message 10: Combating conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) requires a

holistic and comprehensive approach. Holistic means looking at the whole issue, not
just a part. Comprehensive means including all parts. Everyone has a responsibility
to combat CRSV, including the parties to the conflict.

Key Message 11: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is often not reported so
can be invisible even if it is widespread. It is necessary to detect CRSV as early as
possible. Be alert to early-warning indicators or signs for CRSV. Report them
immediately to women’s protection advisers (WPAs) and the human rights
component.

Key Message 12: Early-warning indicators of conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) include regular abductions, killing and recruitment to armed groups of
women, girls and boys; public incitement to violence against women; retaliatory
attacks against civilians; armed actors raiding homes and an increase in harmful
traditional practices such as forced marriages.

Key Message 13: Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a preventable and

punishable crime. UN missions support prevention and protection responses, and
address impunity by helping the host State bring CRSV perpetrators to justice.

Key Message 14: The work of UN Missions on conflict-related sexual violence

(CRSV) is guided by the principles of do-no-harm, a survivor-centred approach,
confidentiality, informed consent and gender sensitivity. The victims/survivors of
CRSV, is at the centre of all prevention and response efforts of peacekeeping
missions.

Key Message 15: The UN Country Team (UNCT) and humanitarian country team
(HCT) coordinate services for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV)
and the mission helps with the referral of survivors to these services.

Key Message 16: Where conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is an issue the UN
deploys dedicated experts, following Security Council Resolution 1888. Women’s
Protection Advisers lead and coordinate a mission’s CRSV work.

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Key Message 17: Military, police and civilian components play a critical role in
implementing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) mandates. They work
together on this as they do on other protection mandates in integrated missions:
no-one works alone. Peacekeepers are expected to be familiar with the
responsibilities of their respective component and section.

Key Message 18: All components and units in a UN mission contribute to

addressing conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in their daily tasks, in different
ways, within a coordinated whole-of-mission approach.

Key Message 19: All UN peacekeepers have a duty to act to protect civilians,
including from sexual violence. When facing situations where conflict-related sexual
violence (CRSV) is occurring or risk of it exists, peacekeepers need to act in
coordination with women’s protection advisers or the human rights
component.

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