Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Forms, Impacts, Implications

GS301-15

Professor Chris Dolan

Module Leader

Option

Term 2

15 CATS

Available to year 2 and finalist students at the School for Cross-faculty Studies and the School of Law

Fill out the expression of interest form if you wish to be considered for this module in 25-26Link opens in a new window

Module description

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) is a critical area of many peoples lived realities in the majority of conflict and post-conflict settings worldwide (e.g. Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, DRC). It includes direct victims of all genders and ages, and has uncounted numbers of indirect victims, notably those who witness it or live with those directly targeted.

There is growing evidence that such experiences pose major obstacles to sustainable development, not least because many of the physical and psychological impacts are poorly identified and rarely directly addressed. Given the scale of the phenomenon and its impacts, and a perception of that its perpetrators enjoy impunity, it is a growing concern of judicial actors such as the International Criminal Court, and within transitional justice processes such as truth and reconciliation commissions.

Additionally, over the last two decades, conflict-related sexual violence has become a major concern of the international aid and development communities. The international architecture around it,particularly arising from a number of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, but also in the form of various bilateral initiatives such as the UKs Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative, constitutes an area of 'soft power' that plays an important though fluctuating role in international diplomacy.

Notwithstanding the multi-disciplinary relevance of the phenomenon, and some advances in existing practice, practitioners in this field largely learn by doing, often having to unlearn existing framings in order to provide more appropriate interventions. This module offers a model of cross-faculty pedagogy oriented towards change leadership, and the first example of undergraduate teaching on conflict-related sexual violence, its impacts, and its implications for practice.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a critical overview of the forms of conflict-related sexual violence, their social, political, legal and medical impacts, and their implications for those working in fields of sustainable development, law, and medicine
Critically analyse extent to which practice and policy directly or indirectly related to CRSV is inclusive and comprehensive
Identify impact of professional biases and assumptions on the CRSV evidence base
Develop advanced skills to address the biases and assumptions in existing CRSV evidence
Present and argue for comprehensive, trans-disciplinary approaches to CRSV and its impacts

Indicative Syllabus

Theme 1: Forms and Impacts of Sexual Violence: This tackles; definitions of conflict-related intentions of perpetrators; targets (body, mind, relationships, social fabric); stigma and dysfunction, voice and activism, gender nationalism.

Theme 2: Legal and Institutional Frameworks This theme explores how CRSV is conceptualised in existing legal frameworks (e.g. Rome Statute) and policy frameworks (e.g. Women, Peace & Security), the disconnect between national and international jurisdictions, and the disconnect between formal justice procedures for CRSV, transitional justice mechanisms, and survivor perceptions of justice. It also draws attention to key stakeholders in the field.

Theme 3: Medical Frameworks. This theme seeks to locate the harms caused by various forms of CRSV within both general practice and various specialisms (e.g. gynaecology, proctology, urology etc.).

Theme 4: Evidence and Interventions. This theme explores how CRSV is theorised and evidenced (particularly gender perspectives), and how this in turn impacts on design of interventions.

Assessment (indicative / subject to minor amendments)

Title	Type	Weight	Length	Final chronological	Eligible for self-certification
Impact and Response Gap Analysis	Critical Review	50	2000 Words	Yes	Yes (extension)
Description	Students choose a country/situation case study with evidenced conflict-related sexual violence. They both seek to capture the extent and nature of that violence, and to explore existing responses. They also seek to identify gaps in those responses. The assessment will also require the student to make recommendations.

Title	Type	Length	Weight	Final Chronological	Eligible for self-certification
Testimony Analysis	Written report	1000	40	No	Yes (extension)
Description	Students take a publicly available survivor testimony and analyse the narrative therein as well as, where possible, the questions that are posed to the survivor. This is a written exercise in which students will be expected to identify assumptions and biases and to propose additional alternative questions.

Title	Type	Weight	Final chronological	Eligible for self-certification
Seminar engagement and participation	Contribution in learning activities (face-to-face or digital)	10	No	Yes (extension)
Description	Students will be asked to prepare 3 brief assignments for upload to Moodle in advance of three of the nine seminars. They will be asked to present in class. This assessment also reflects convenors' assessment of each student's engagement in seminars as a whole (groupwork, plenary, willingness to share views, ask questions)

Please note: Module availability and staffing may change year on year depending on availability and other operational factors. The School for Cross-faculty Studies makes no guarantee that any modules will be offered in a particular year, or that they will necessarily be taught by the staff listed on this page.