This book addresses sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women from an international law point of view. It identifies the reasons behind SGBV against women with a specific focus on cultural practices that try to justify it and highlights the legal challenges related to the topic for both national and international justice systems. The seven chapters of the book are: i) Introduction ii) SGBV a global concern; iii) International legal protection; iv) Role of international institutions; v) Role of cultural factors and vi) Challenges vii) Conclusions. In the light of concerted global efforts to bring to an end, or at least severely contain SGBV against women, the book provides a future roadmap to the United Nations system, States, international institutions, multidisciplinary scholars, civil society organizations and other global actors.

The book contains a Foreword by Peter Maurer, President of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Bharat H. Desai is Professor of International Law and Jawaharlal Nehru Chair in International Environmental Law at the Centre for International Legal Studies in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He serves as Editors-in-Chief of the Yearbook of International Environmental Law (Oxford: OUP) and Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Policy& Law (Amsterdam: IOS Press). He has formerly served as the Governing Board Member of IUCN Academy of Environmental Law (USA) as well as Vice-Chairman of Foundation for Development of International Law in Asia (The Netherlands). Some of his significant books include (i) International Environmental Law: Collected Essays (2022; forthcoming) (ii) Taking International Law Seriously: Scholarly Musings (2022; forthcoming) (iii) Our Earth Matters: Pathways to a Better Common Environmental Future, Editor (2021) (iv) International Environmental Governance: Towards UNEPO (2014) (v) Multilateral Environmental Agreements: Legal Status of the Secretariats (2013, 2010) (vi) Institutionalizing International Environmental Law (2004). Professor Desai has been a member of the official Indian delegations of Indian Ministry of Environment& Forests as well as Ministry of External Affairs, to various intergovernmental negotiations. He has also been consulted by Asian Development Bank (Manila), World Conservation Union (Gland) and International Council for Integrated Mountain Development (Kathmandu). 

Moumita Mandal serves as Post-doctoral Research Fellow with Jawaharlal Nehru Chair, at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, after obtaining her Ph.D. from the institute. She has contributed significant scholarly works in journals of international repute such as: Environmental Policy& Law(2021); Indian Journal of International Law(2020);The National Human Rights Commission Journal (2020); Economic and Political Weekly(2018); International Journal of Law and Policy Review(2018). Dr.Mandal has delivered talks at international symposiums on cutting-edge issues of global concern including sexual and gender-based violence.

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: A Global Concern.- Chapter 3. International Legal Protection Against SGBV.- Chapter 4. Role of the Cultural Factors in SGBV.- Chapter 5. Role of the International Institutions.- Chapter 6. Legal Challenges.- Chapter 7. Conclusions.