Tactical rape and sexual violence in conflict continue to be perpetrated globally by state and non-state actors. They are being used with terrifying effectiveness, creating legacies of a negative impact on women, men, girls, boys and communities. Given the extent to which these crimes continue, it may seem irrational to talk of progress in confronting them. Yet there has been progress, in many ways remarkable progress, in recognising the reality and the implications of tactical rape and sexual violence in conflict. After centuries of states and the international community appearing to ignore, accept, condone or exploit the prevalence of these crimes, formal normative rejection has emerged at an international level, and there is some hope of it spreading among states. This is a beginning, albeit limited and uneven, to what is hoped will be eventual effective prevention of such crimes.

While even the formulation of this goal can be deemed progress, there is much more to be done to track how this change was effected, to identify what further change is required in policies and practices of the security and judicial systems, to pressure for widespread national implementation of commitments made by states at international level, to understand and advocate for appropriate support needed by women survivors and victims of tactical rape and sexual violence in conflict, to pressure for timely and due accountability of perpetrators of these crimes, to ensure women's participation in changing systems, policies and practices that affect their lives, and to ensure a sound understanding of the extent and nature of these abuses experienced by women in conflict.

It is important to reflect on the signposts, strategies and actors in change from accepting tactical rape and sexual violence as an inevitable part of conflict to international normative rejection of these crimes. While this change has occurred mostly at international level and is yet to make a measurable difference to the experience of many women, understanding this progression may help future advocacy. It comes with the acknowledgement that any such action has little or no impact or relevance to non-state perpetrators of tactical rape and sexual violence in conflict.