Looking back, moving forward: the role of the international community in addressing conflict-related sexual violence

Based on a review of existing literature, this article provides an initial analysis of obstacles to addressing impunity for widespread conflict-related sexual violence. First, a background of trends of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in conflict is provided. The article then outlines why addressing impunity is important for building peace and ending conflict-related SGBV. Next, the article presents an overview of developments and mechanisms adopted by the international community in an attempt to address impunity. Yet despite these advances, conflict-related sexual violence remains widespread and impunity persists. Thus, the final section of article sets out one proposal for addressing the problem-increasing the number of women working in international peace operations through the creation of United Nations-sponsored Women's Police Service (UNWPS), which would recruit, train, and deploy women's contingents for policing in international peace operations.