Grappling with a weapon: The politics and policies of conflict-related sexual violence at the United Nations Security Council

This paper examines the United Nations Security Council’s recognition of conflict-related sexual violence in the context of the Women, Peace and Security agenda; the extent to which that recognition has translated into the adoption of policies and commitment of resources by states; and the opportunities created and limitations imposed by the pervasive understanding of conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic or weapon of war. The paper highlights the political constraints that shape discussions of conflict-related sexual violence and the variation in efforts to prioritize prevention of conflict-related sexual violence and accountability for perpetrators.