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Abstract

This article critically analyzes conflict-related systematic sexual violence (CRSV) within the frameworks of international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocols. Moving beyond viewing CRSV as an isolated atrocity, it situates sexual violence within the historical and political roots of conflict, using case studies from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Syrian Arab Republic. The analysis demonstrates how sexual violence operates as a weapon within exploitative wartime economies, where institutional collapse and illicit resource networks enable the commodification and control of women’s bodies. Furthermore, the article introduces a sectarian lens to the study of CRSV, disputing its portrayal as a uniform wartime practice. The research interrogates limitations within international legal frameworks that often prioritize state and military interests over civilian protection. Centering gender as a power relation, this article demonstrates how CRSV is deployed as a deliberate tactic of war that is rooted in patriarchal systems of dominance. Importantly, the article highlights the critical role of feminist advocacy in redefining CRSV as a crime against humanity and a tactic of genocide, documenting how sustained efforts by feminist organizations have pushed international legal systems to address sexual violence in conflict. Their advocacy has contributed to the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), setting precedents for accountability and justice. By integrating intersectional feminist analysis, this research article argues for a transformative vision of justice that recognizes women not only as victims but as political subjects central to sustainable peace.

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