ASCI’s research team has identified a number of important cross-cutting issues, whereby gender has been prioritised as an important cross-cutting theme when considering the relation between HIV/AIDS, conflict and security. Although gender is an important theme in each of the research clusters, additional gender-focused research is being carried out. Research on gender in relation to HIV/AIDS will contribute to a better understanding of the extent and impact of sexual violence in situations associated with the military, conflict and crisis. In addition, research aims to identify the socio-cultural traits of masculinity that are linked to the military and the drivers of HIV prevalence. Apart from gender, other cross-cutting themes to be studied are HIV/AIDS in relation to security sector reform (SSR) programmes and policies, the impact of HIV/AIDS on the police and global media coverage of HIV/AIDS as a security issue.