PB

Since long-held cultural perceptions and beliefs require more than legislation, national laws must be backed by multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks at the community level with the active participation of traditional and religious leaders. The social acceptability of sexual violence in conflict must not be allowed to gain ground, normalized or reinforced. We therefore share the view that sexual violence in conflict does not arise solely out of the conditions of war, but is directly linked to the culture of violence and discrimination against women that already exists in any given society, and that this must be tackled holistically.