The History of Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones

Although sexual violence in conflict zones (SVCZ) is as old as warfare, the
international community has granted it serious attention only since the
1990s. NGOs, activists, academics, medical professionals, and lawyers now

Although sexual violence in conflict zones (SVCZ) is as old as warfare, the
international community has granted it serious attention only since the
1990s. NGOs, activists, academics, medical professionals, and lawyers now
devote considerable attention to sexual violence in contemporary conflicts. This workshop will explore the role of sexual violence in conflicts around the globe from the ancient world to the late twentieth century, with a special interest in conflicts before the 1990s. The UICHR will host the workshop from April 27-29, 2006. While we anticipate that most papers will explore case studies, we especially welcome papers that also address theoretical and potentially comparative questions such as (but not limited to):
- Functions of SVCZ, such as the capture of human property, deracination, enhancing military morale, demoralizing the enemy
- The relationship between the organization of gender in civilian society and sexual violence in times of war
- Consequences of SVCZ in postwar transitions (social, cultural, economic; governmental and legal responses)
- The relationship between state and military formation and SVCZ: strong and weak states, the modernizing army, etc.
- The relationship between SVCZ and war aims in varying types of conflicts: religious warfare, colonial and post-colonial wars, genocidal war, civil war, etc.
Pending funding, the organizers will cover expenses and provide an honorarium for all workshop participants. Participants will be required to submit completed papers six weeks in advance of the workshop for duplication and circulation. Proposals are due September 1, 2005. Please submit a 250-word proposal and a 2-page CV electronically to uichr@uiowa.edu (with subject heading: Call for Papers) - extracted from the CfP).