Societal Violence against Women and National Insecurity: The Need for Gendered Security (original) (raw)
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Recommended Citation Raum, Mary (2020) "Review Essays—Key Publications for the Study of Women, Peace, and Security: "Conflict-Related Violence against Women: Transforming Transition," "Women and Gender Perspectives in the Military: An International Comparison," and "The Oxford Handbook on Women, Peace, and Security"," Naval War College Review: Vol. 73 : No. 3 , Article 11. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol73/iss3/11
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In recent years, the nexus of gender, conflict and violence has become a frequent object of feminist research. This research has been significant for a number of reasons. It has documented the exclusion of women in the processes following war or violent conflicts, i.e. in peace-building processes, and demonstrated that this is the norm. It has also pointed out that conflict and war, security operations and security precautions are practices and policies which are conducted and experienced in gendered ways and have gendered consequences. This observation is relevant for the approaches found in the security-development nexus (Henry 2006; Al-Ali and Pratt 2009). Apart from the detrimental effects of violent conflicts, such conflicts present some opportunities and obstacles to women and others to men (e.g.
isara solutions, 2020
Violence against women during war and conflict is rampant across the globe. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, such incidents are universally under-reported. These episodes of violence portray a picture depicting millions of women experiencing violence, or living with its consequences. Since Second World War, rape and other forms of sexual violence has assumed strategic significance. Sadly, Rape is deployed by men as a weapon of war to showcase their masculinity and power. Women are given as booty for victory in battle. They are raped, mutilated, shattered and ruined beyond revamp. It is a molestation of women’s dignity and identity; as well as an attack on political, social and cultural integrity of a nation, race or identity. Such shameful acts of violence are not unique incidents, but continued reoccurrence of brutality and inhumanity prevailing among humans. Although International law guarantees protection of women from all forms of discrimination and violence, but it sounds more of rhetoric rather than reality. This paper highlights how shockingly women are subjected to sexual violence irrespective of the fact that most of the nations have either signed or ratified International conventions and treaties preventing any form of violence against the specified gender.
Preventing Violence Against Women and Gender Inequality in Peacekeeping
This course aims to assist UN and other peace operations personnel to promote the human rights and security of women and girls. It does so through lessons emphasizing the nature and scope of violence against women and girls around the globe, the connections between gender inequality and violence in both public and domestic spaces, and on interpersonal, community, national, regional, and international levels. Other lessons cover women’s rights as human rights and the international United Nations mandate to involve women in key roles within peacemaking and peace-building processes at every stage and every level of authority. Some of the factual information in the course is drawn and/or adapted from the text _Women in an Insecure World_, by The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Interested readers may consult that original text for a more comprehensive review of research on this topic by DCAF.
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This article illustrates women’s roles in conflict prevention, during conflict and peacebuilding afterwards. It examines challenges and opportunity from a gender perspective. Discussions on women and security are complex. Women are not homogenous and their experiences are not all alike. They are victims, perpetrators, protectors and warriors. They are also powerful, under-utilized agents for change. Women continue to be largely excluded from peace negotiations and agreements. Gender mainstreaming remains a conceptual instrument rather than being a practical tool. Many post-conflict programs fail to capture the unique needs of women, which leaves them vulnerable to sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, social exclusion, and emotional fragility. Further, women encounter challenges consolidating gains made as a result of conflict, which blurs gender roles. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating analyses, supporting existing agency, seeing the ‘big picture’ while cautioning against the omission of men from gender mainstreaming activity. It concludes with several policy recommendations for improving gender mainstreaming in practice.