Preventing Sexual Violence through Training: A Pilot Study In Colombia’s Military Academies

The ICRC has promoted respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Colombia since 1969, working to ensure that its prohibitions—including those against sexual violence—are integrated into the doctrine and training of both state and non-state weapons bearers. In 2023, Colombia’s Ministry of Defense agreed to collaborate with the ICRC to assess the impact of training programs for educators at Colombia’s leading military academies. To support this initiative, the ICRC has partnered with CESED at Universidad de los Andes and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), both known for their expertise in impact evaluation within law enforcement contexts. The central research question is whether targeted IHL training for military instructors increases awareness, reporting, and preventive behaviors regarding sexual violence in areas affected by armed conflict. The intervention provides educators with knowledge of their legal obligations and practical tools for addressing sexual violence in military operations, representing the first randomized evaluation of the ICRC’s global prevention training for weapons bearers. The pilot phase will refine the intervention, develop and test survey instruments, and collect qualitative data at a single training academy to prepare for randomization and scale-up.
Conceptually, the project investigates how preventative education may reduce sexual violence in conflict zones. Despite substantial investments in human rights training, evidence on its effects on military attitudes or behaviors remains limited. By focusing on “light-touch” training methods, this study explores how militaries might effectively shift attitudes toward sexual violence through accessible, impactful educational interventions that could affect soldiers’ behavior.