Challenging the perception that women are exclusively the victims, the caregivers or the passive supporters of men in times of armed conflict, Listening to the Silences: Women and War exposes the reader to a diversity of women's voices. These voices, both personal and academic, demonstrate that women are increasingly taking on less 'traditional' roles during war, and that these roles are multifaceted, complicated and sometimes contradictory. The experiences of a judge, forensic anthropologist, survivor of sexual slavery, soldier, activist, journalist, humanitarian worker and others...

It is indisputable that the way armed conflict is conducted has changed dramatically in the last half of the twentieth century. The contributions to this volume accept the reality of these changes and seek to assess the efficacy of certain aspects of international humanitarian law. The volume commences with a critical evaluation of the 1977 Protocols additional to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. Subsequent chapters consider increasing protection for women and minorities in armed conflict; efforts to control the weapons of war; identifying the law applicable to peace operations; and...