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Women have long played important roles in war, humanitarian crises and post-war reconstruction. Not only have they been targets of conflict and assistance, but also survivors and key problem-solvers. Julie Mertus contends that attempts by humanitarian groups to provide assistance and protection will fall short unless they enlist women themselves as major actors in such efforts. Case studies from Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan describe experiences in tackling gender issues in humanitarian organizations and in situations of conflict. Mertus goes on to show how international human rights law has begun to address gender-based violence and how agencies can make use of these developments. This book will be of interest to students, academics, policy makers, humanitarian and human rights practitioners. The Humanitarianism & War Project located at the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University is an independent policy research initiative underwritten by some 50 UN agencies, governments, NGOs and foundations. Since its inception in 1991, the project has conducted thousands of interviews on complex world emergencies.