Gender and sexual violence in times of conflict

Second it must be emphasized that sexual violence is only one of the problems that arise when women face armed conflict: more women than men become refugees or displaced persons during conflict and women''s primary responsibility for agriculture and water collection makes them particularly vulnerable to injury from certain types of weapons used in conflict such as landmines. Historically direct and/or indirectly institutionalized sexual violence against women has worked to demoralize and terrorize women. Today sexual violence against women remains one of the most intractable violations of women''s rights. In civil conflicts and guerrilla insurgency women are considered spoils of war and are targeted for sexual violence in attacks that include rape murder and sexual slavery.