THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICTS: THE USE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Abstract

From the beginning of times to the present day, armed conflicts and sexual violence have been a global constant that has had a completely disproportionate impact on women, consequently affecting the peace and security of the world as a whole. This thesis will focus on analyzing the role of women in the context of war, paying special attention to the vulnerability of the female population to sexual violence as a weapon, tactic or strategy of war, the underlying causes of this form of violence and how it affects the victim¿s lives and their respective communities. It will explore the various functions they have played throughout history, how they have made their way into the military sphere, and their participation as both civilians and combatants, presenting their different experiences, and the constraints they have faced.