MÄN SOM OFFER FÖR SEXUELLT VÅLD I KONFLIKT En kvalitativ textanalys om skiftande problembilder i FNs generalsekretariat 2014-2024

Abstract

This thesis investigates the underexplored issue of sexual violence in conflict (SViC) against men, with a main focus on its interpretation and representation in the United Nations Secretary-General’s reports on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2014 to 2024. Adopting a constructivist approach, the study looks at how representations on this issue have changed, especially after Security Council Resolution 2467 (2019), which was the first resolution to recognize men as victims of SViC. The research addresses two main questions: whether the reports have placed greater emphasis on male victimization after 2019 compared to earlier periods, and how the overall portrayal of sexual violence in conflict has shifted over time. Through a comparative qualitative text analysis of selected reports before and after 2019, the study identifies changes in how sexual violence against men is being portrayed over time. The findings reveal a shift in how SViC is discussed, with growing recognition of male victimization alongside the persistent focus on women as the main victims. This research highlights the complexity of gender roles in conflict and emphasizes the need for a broader understanding of sexual violence in war.