Sexual Violence during War and Peace

Using the Peruvian internal armed conflict as a case study, this book examines wartime rape and how it reproduces and reinforces existing hierarchies. Jelke Boesten argues that effective responses to sexual violence in wartime are conditional upon profound changes in legal frameworks and practices, institutions, and society at large.

'Sophisticated, accessible, and enriching, this fascinating book weaves together complex theoretical debates about sex, sexuality, sexual identity, power, domination, and violence with moving personal histories of both victims and perpetrators of sexual violence during Peru's internal armed conflict (1980-2000). Drawing on her empirical research, Boesten complicates the 'rape as a weapon of war' narrative that has become predominant in much of the literature on gender, violence, and war by distinguishing between different 'rape regimes,' including rape as a weapon of war but also as a commodity for the pleasure of soldiers, used to reinforce military masculinities and complicities. Boesten also complicates the narrative of gender-based violence by exploring how such violence is often underpinned by other hierarchies of difference, including race and class. In this sense, the Peruvian case is particularly relevant, and Boesten's discussion of it is fascinating and novel.' - Jo-Marie Burt, George Mason University, USA

"There is a sense of urgency about this book. How can we understand sexual violence? Why is it neglected by the courts and politicians? What can be done about it? Jelke Boesten helps us think differently about transitional justice." - Joanna Bourke, Birkbeck, University of London, UK

"This book is a timely contribution to a new wave of research on sexual violence and its legacies. Boesten's detailed account of transitional and post-transitional justice in Peru underscores the challenges of addressing sexual and gender-based violence, and provides insights into how practitioners may achieve a greater measure of gender justice in Peru and beyond." - Kimberly Theidon, Harvard University, USA

Jelke Boesten is Senior Lecturer in Social Development and Human Security at University of Leeds, UK.