IRJMSH Vol 11 Issue 1 [Year 2020] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nline) 2348–9359 (Print) International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 93 www.irjmsh.com Reflections on the continuity of violence against women amidst war and internal conflicts: Global perspectives *Dr. Namita Singh Malik 1 ABSTRACT Violence against women during war and conflict is rampant across the globe. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, such incidents are universally under-reported. These episodes of violence portray a picture depicting millions of women experiencing violence, or living with its consequences. Since Second World War, rape and other forms of sexual violence has assumed strategic significance. Sadly, Rape is deployed by men as a weapon of war to showcase their masculinity and power. Women are given as booty for victory in battle. They are raped, mutilated, shattered and ruined beyond revamp. It is a molestation of women’s dignity and identity; as well as an attack on political, social and cultural integrity of a nation, race or identity. Such shameful acts of violence are not unique incidents, but continued reoccurrence of brutality and inhumanity prevailing among humans. Although International law guarantees protection of women from all forms of discrimination and violence, but it sounds more of rhetoric rather than reality. This paper highlights how shockingly women are subjected to sexual violence irrespective of the fact that most of the nations have either signed or ratified International conventions and treaties preventing any form of violence against the specified gender. INTRODUCTION “If there are men; there will be wars; when there is a war, it’s the women who become the index of how mean the war is!” Throughout the progression of human history, wars have come along at regular intervals; the raison deter have been different, the target and trajectory of pursuits have varied; yet, the effects and the enormity of devastation have surprisingly been always the same. And unfortunately, womenfolk have always been at the receiving end of the madness. From pre-history to modern age, mankind has surprised humanity with ingenious ways of exploiting, torturing and maiming the fair sex. From the Rape of the Sabine Women (1583) to the Nanking Massacre( 1937) , Partition of India (1947) to Bosnian War ( 1995), Boko Haram to Taliban and ISIS, geographic identities and claims of racial and cultural superiority have never been an impediment when it comes to the depredation and silencing of women. To Marx, ‘social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex.’ However, the 21 st century poses serious question as to how far have material advancements helped secure for women their rightful place in the hierarchical social order across nations and continents. Man has reached Mars in his penchant for discovery of the unknown; yet, his achievements have been, at best, mediocre if not miniscule in allowing Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘second sex’ freedom from forced miseries and security of life. 1 Associate Professor, School of Law, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.