The report demonstrates the scope and magnitude of sexual violence in armed conflict. It brings to light sexual violence in the world's underreported conflicts, as well as in those countries where it is notoriously commonplace. The Global Overview profiles conflict-related sexual violence in fifty-one countries, throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Security sector institutions are crucial in preventing and responding to sexual violence in armed conflict. The second part of the report, Implications for the Security Sector, explores strategies for security and justice actors to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. It focuses particularly on peacekeepers, police, the justice sector including transitional justice, DDR programmes and civil society initiatives.

In 2005, DCAF published a study, Women in an Insecure World, bringing its expertise in security policy and security sector governance to an examination of violence against women as a global phenomenon, and of the role of women in peace-building. DCAF has since developed a programme on gender and security, focusing both on security sector responses to gender-based violence, and the participation of women in security processes and institutions.

In Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict: Global Overview and Implications for the Security Sector, the authors propose various ways in which the security and justice sectors can improve or develop strategies to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. It is a resource for security sector agencies, as well as for policymakers and researchers, civil society groups and humanitarian agencies that work with affected populations and security agencies.

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If you would like to receive a free hard copy for your organisation or for distribution to partners and policy- and decision-makers, please contact publications@dcaf.ch. Provide your full postal address and an indication of how many copies you require.

Should you like to know more about DCAF's work on gender and security issues, please visit their website at www.dcaf.ch or contact DCAF at info@dcaf.ch.