This article analyzes the historical panorama of the treatment given to sexual violence against women in war contexts in international law, considering the gradual recognition of women as subjects of human rights and the incorporation of the gender perspective, aimed at better focusing the multiple impacts of violence against the woman. This paper has a qualitative approach, using, as primary sources, international treaties and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Results point to the development of legislation, denunciation mechanisms and jurisdictions that protect women's rights at international level, limited, however, by national practices, difficulties of internalizing international court decisions, and to characterize individual responsibility for breaking international laws.