Conflict Related Sexual Violence and Rebel Group Compliance with International Humanitarian Law

Abstract: Sexual violence is not an inevitable part of war, not all armed actors rape. Why do some rebel groups engage in conflict related sexual violence while others do not? Previous research suggest a number of explanations pertaining to i.e. actors characteristics and conflict types. However, limited knowledge exists on the association between the implementation of parallel legal tools, available for rebel groups to enhance their obligations under international humanitarian law, and rebel perpetrated sexual violence. This thesis contributes to the field by introducing explanations from another field; namely international law. Based on a theoretical framework drawing on theories of rebel group dynamics and repertoires of violence, the thesis holds that higher levels of implementation of measures of international humanitarian law relates to lower levels of rebel perpetrated sexual violence. The conducted qualitative analysis finds some support for the proposed theory and contrary to theoretical expectations, the results indicate that the focus should not lie on the number of legal tools implemented by a rebel group but rather on the specific type, or combination of some.