Sexual violence is often part of the tragic and brutal pattern of criminal acts committed during armed conflict, it affects mostly women and girls, but also affects and victimises men and boys.The main purpose of the Protocol is to promote accountability for crimes of sexual violence under international law. It sets out the basic principles of documenting sexual violence as a crime under international law, gleaned from best practice in the field. The Protocol aims to serve as a tool to support efforts by national and international justice and human rights practitioners to effectively document sexual violence as a crime under international law – as a war crime, crime against humanity or act of genocide.