Gender Relations and Gender Relations and Armed ConflictArmed Conflict

Presented by: Madhuri Singh Ph.D.Presented by: Madhuri Singh Ph.D.

CPDS CPDS

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013

Gender Relations of Armed Gender Relations of Armed ConflictConflict

‘‘Gender’ refers to the perceptions of appropriateGender’ refers to the perceptions of appropriatebehavior, appearance and attitude for women andbehavior, appearance and attitude for women andmen that arise from social and cultural expectations. men that arise from social and cultural expectations. In the context of armed conflict, the perception persists ofIn the context of armed conflict, the perception persists ofwomen as wives, mothers and nurturers, whereas men women as wives, mothers and nurturers, whereas men

arearecast as aggressors and soldiers. cast as aggressors and soldiers. Stages of conflict Stages of conflict Run-up to conflict (pre-conflict) Run-up to conflict (pre-conflict) The conflict itself The conflict itself Peace process (or conflict resolution) Peace process (or conflict resolution) Reconstruction and reintegration (or post-conflict) Reconstruction and reintegration (or post-conflict)

Gender Relationship…Gender Relationship…

Pre-conflict expectation: ‘social upheaval mightPre-conflict expectation: ‘social upheaval mightopen a door to the changes we hope for’ open a door to the changes we hope for’ Structural causes: lack of participation in Structural causes: lack of participation in

political life;political life; suppression; discrimination and exclusion of suppression; discrimination and exclusion of

all kinds;all kinds;violation of human rights; little or no access violation of human rights; little or no access to resources; absence of security to resources; absence of security

Armed conflict exacerbates gender relations Armed conflict exacerbates gender relations that existed in the pre-conflict periodthat existed in the pre-conflict period

Gender Relations…Gender Relations…

During conflictDuring conflict Breakdown of structures and societiesBreakdown of structures and societies Gender stereotype maintained but roles Gender stereotype maintained but roles

change change Change in power dynamics Change in power dynamics Extremely high violence-Negative on both Extremely high violence-Negative on both

men and women men and women Gender specific disadvantagesGender specific disadvantages Masculinity and conflict-if cannot fulfill the Masculinity and conflict-if cannot fulfill the

expected masculine role-frustrations taken expected masculine role-frustrations taken out on family members out on family members

Gender Relations …. Gender Relations ….

Gendered Impact of Armed ConflictGendered Impact of Armed Conflict Power relation ships more imbalanced after Power relation ships more imbalanced after

conflictconflict Acceptance of gender stereotypes or acceptance Acceptance of gender stereotypes or acceptance

of changing roleof changing role Perception: Men as warriors and women as GBV Perception: Men as warriors and women as GBV Perception: Men as perpetrators of sexual Perception: Men as perpetrators of sexual

violence; men can also be victims violence; men can also be victims Neglect: GBV and displacement as cultural issues Neglect: GBV and displacement as cultural issues

and not human rights issues and not human rights issues Power imbalance between men and women Power imbalance between men and women

exacerbate to their disadvantage (e.g. GBV-sexual exacerbate to their disadvantage (e.g. GBV-sexual violence on men overlooked) violence on men overlooked)

Gender Relationships Gender Relationships

Post conflict destruction and how it affects men and womenPost conflict destruction and how it affects men and women Infra structure-construction-men away, children not going to school, women not having Infra structure-construction-men away, children not going to school, women not having

health posts for delivery, water taps etc health posts for delivery, water taps etc

VAW-domestic violence ; sexual violence for exchange of commodities VAW-domestic violence ; sexual violence for exchange of commodities Forced pregnancies, trafficking, sexual slavery Forced pregnancies, trafficking, sexual slavery Gains women get during displacement does not change gender relationships Gains women get during displacement does not change gender relationships Men as direct and indirect targets Men as direct and indirect targets Special treatment for women-moral role for failing to do women’s prescribed role of a Special treatment for women-moral role for failing to do women’s prescribed role of a

mother and wife-bur seeking their assistance toomother and wife-bur seeking their assistance too Women sacrifice themselves to save the men and the familiesWomen sacrifice themselves to save the men and the families

Sexual abuse Sexual abuse Security of womenSecurity of women Work burden, changing roles and responsibilities Work burden, changing roles and responsibilities

Gender Relations…Gender Relations…

Impact of Conflict (General)Impact of Conflict (General)

- Changes in family structureChanges in family structure- Breakdown of production-agricultural, industrialBreakdown of production-agricultural, industrial- Unemployment and underemploymentUnemployment and underemployment- Psychological trauma, physical violence, casualties and deathPsychological trauma, physical violence, casualties and death- Landmines and aftereffectsLandmines and aftereffects- Degradation in moral values (increase in VAW)Degradation in moral values (increase in VAW)- Dislocation-external and internal (pushes into situation of Dislocation-external and internal (pushes into situation of

VAW-TIP, prostitution) VAW-TIP, prostitution) - Division of labor within householdDivision of labor within household

Armed Conflict…Armed Conflict…

Impact on women (negative):Impact on women (negative):

- Division of labor-increase in work burden in the absence of Division of labor-increase in work burden in the absence of menmen

- Raped with impunity, sexual violence Raped with impunity, sexual violence - Reproductive right violation-forced pregnancy, early Reproductive right violation-forced pregnancy, early

marriages, unsafe abortion, marriages, unsafe abortion, - Illegal migration Illegal migration Positive Impact:Positive Impact:- Household headsHousehold heads- Participation in social, cultural, economic and political Participation in social, cultural, economic and political

activitiesactivities- - Changing gender roles as combatants, security forces etc.Changing gender roles as combatants, security forces etc.

Gender Relations …Gender Relations …

Peace ProcessPeace Process Peace keeping for men-patrolling streets to protect women and Peace keeping for men-patrolling streets to protect women and

children children Women as negotiators for peace Women as negotiators for peace Minimum number of women in peace negotiation, mediation Minimum number of women in peace negotiation, mediation

and diplomacy and diplomacy Women excluded from participating in political arena Women excluded from participating in political arena Community mediation committees ; Local peace committees -Community mediation committees ; Local peace committees -

33% women 33% women Unity and clarity is the strengthUnity and clarity is the strength Real peace does not only mean the end of armed conflict, but Real peace does not only mean the end of armed conflict, but

rather the establishment of durable and inclusive social rather the establishment of durable and inclusive social institutionsinstitutions

Gender Relationships…Gender Relationships…

Post conflict-DDRPost conflict-DDR Disarmament , demobilization and reintegration Disarmament , demobilization and reintegration

(DDR)-mostly focused on male, ignores the needs (DDR)-mostly focused on male, ignores the needs of women-perpetuates unequal gender of women-perpetuates unequal gender stereotyping, unfairly by passing women ex-stereotyping, unfairly by passing women ex-combatants and others who supported war combatants and others who supported war activitiesactivities

Women combatants more marginalized, prevented Women combatants more marginalized, prevented in participating in the state restructuring structure in participating in the state restructuring structure

Changing gender relations as household heads Changing gender relations as household heads Conflicting relationships based on stereotype after Conflicting relationships based on stereotype after

conflict conflict

Gender Relations…Gender Relations…

Need to educate returning combatants, specially Need to educate returning combatants, specially men and the receiving community of the changing men and the receiving community of the changing gender roles in the societygender roles in the society

Although gender relations have the potential to be Although gender relations have the potential to be greatly improved through long-term interventions greatly improved through long-term interventions aimed at the social and economic integration of aimed at the social and economic integration of women, long-term development assistance has women, long-term development assistance has decreased while funding for complex humanitarian decreased while funding for complex humanitarian emergencies has increased proportionately.emergencies has increased proportionately.

These are not sufficient to transform gender These are not sufficient to transform gender relationships to improve women’s lives relationships to improve women’s lives

Gender Relationships…Gender Relationships…

ECOSOC definition of gender mainstreaming (1997): ECOSOC definition of gender mainstreaming (1997): ……gender mainstreaming perspective is the process of gender mainstreaming perspective is the process of

assessing the implications for women and men in any assessing the implications for women and men in any planned action, including legislation, policies or planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes. programmes.

It is a strategy for making the concerns and experiences of It is a strategy for making the concerns and experiences of women as well as men an integral part of design, women as well as men an integral part of design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, so programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. perpetuated.

The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is to achieve gender The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality (UNDP 2002: 8).equality (UNDP 2002: 8).