Sexual violence in armed conflict is a grave violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and continues to affect individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Despite clear legal prohibitions and commitments under the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence remains a significant challenge.

This policy brief explores how states and armed forces can strengthen implementation of their IHL obligations by embedding prevention and response measures throughout military structures, doctrine, planning processes, and operations.

Drawing on peer-to-peer discussions convened by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and DCAF, the brief provides practical recommendations for defence policymakers, military commanders, legal advisers, gender advisers, and training institutions.

It emphasizes the importance of assigning clear responsibilities across the chain of command, integrating sexual violence prevention into operational planning from the outset, and fostering collaboration between legal and gender advisers. By translating legal obligations into concrete military practice, armed forces can better anticipate risks, protect affected populations, and strengthen accountability in armed conflict.