From sexual exploitation to assault: A spectrum of practices of conflict-related sexual violence in Indonesia

This paper examines conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Indonesia, focusing on state-contested occurrences across Aceh, Ambon (Maluku), and Poso (Central Sulawesi). Analysing primary and secondary qualitative data through the lens of militarised masculinities, the study explores how institutionalised military culture frames soldiers around aggression, dominance, and protection. Within this structure, sexual access to local women is leveraged as a symbolic and material expression of military power. Offers of protection and material goods in exchange for sexual relationships highlight the systemic vulnerability of women in conflict settings. Addressing data scarcity and heavy societal stigma, the study adopts a survivor-centred framework that values both voiced and unvoiced experiences. It reveals that silence often serves as a dignified survival strategy for victims seeking autonomy in the face of institutional denial. Ultimately, this research offers critical insights into the complex dynamics of state power, gendered military culture, and survivor resilience in Indonesian conflict zones.