In the context of the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security, the journal of International Peacekeeping is publishing a series of articles entitled “Peacekeeping Prevention: Strengthening Efforts to Preempt Conflict-related Sexual Violence”.

Anki Sjöberg, Fight for Humanity’s co-Director, contributed to this forum with an article on experiences on the prevention of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) with non-State armed actors.

In her article, she provides lessons learnt from her long experience advocating for the prevention of sexual violence towards non-State armed actors, and she draws a set of recommendations on how to be more successful:

• Working on gender issues can be a door opener with non-State armed actors, as discussions exclusively on CRSV are sensitive, pose high risks, and have limited incentives for them.

• Focusing on sexual violence and not just CRSV could help create and maintain the interest of non-State armed actors interlocutors, as they may be facing challenges that don’t relate in direct terms to the conflict, such as domestic violence and abuse.

• Context-specific and targeted data on violations provides a basis for advocacy work towards non-State armed actors and allows them to find solutions that fit the actual problem. If well done and acknowledging efforts undertaken, it can also help build confidence in the dialogue process.

• Positive role-modelling is a way of helping non-State armed actors accept a change in behaviour.

Read Anki Sjöberg's article on page 562.