Women in conflict zones always bear the heavy personal costs of wars that target them for rape and other torture, ruin their country's physical and social infrastructure, destabilize their economies, destroy their homes and kill and maim their children and families.    The period after a war is often as dangerous for women as the period of actual combat. Therefore, as advocates for women, Women for Women International believes that before engaging in war, any and all non-violent methods should be used to resolve conflict. If war is internationally sanctioned, then every measure must be taken to avoid targeting non-combatants directly through military attacks or indirectly through attacks on civilian and industrial infrastructure. During and after conflict, every measure must be taken to                  re-empower women and other civilians dispossessed by war.