Conflict & Peace Building
Forgotten Females: Women and Girls in Post-Conflict Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Programs
Maya Oza Ollek, 2008 (PhD thesis, McGill University - Canada)
Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programs slowly developed gender-policies to reflect the recent upsurge in females’ participation in armed groups in combat and support roles. This has not translated, however, into females’ successful inclusion in DDR. The thesis considers the influence of the provisions for DDR in peace agreements, the definitions of combatants and eligibility criteria for program entry, institutional responsibility for DDR programs, DDR program implementation, and the agency of DDR target populations on the participation of females in DDR. It examines DDR programs in Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Sudan. The case studies demonstrate that gender-sensitive DDR policies are important pre-conditions but do not serve as guarantees for females’ inclusion in DDR. The thesis concludes that the resource constraints faced by leading actors and a limited recognition of the agency of DDR target populations play decisive roles in determining the level of females’ participation in DDR.
Because I am a girl 2008 – In the shadow of war
Plan International, May 2008
This is the second in a series of eight reports examining the rights of girls throughout their childhood, adolescence and as young women. The 2008 report examines the state of girls in conflict situations around the world.
Securing Equality, Engendering Peace: A Guide to Policy and Planning on Women, Peace and Security
INSTRAW, September 2006
This guide examines one of the crucial steps on the path towards the full implementation of existing laws, namely the formulation and implementation of concrete policies and plans. More specifically, this guide concentrates on the creation of action plans on the issue of women, peace and security. The purpose of this guide is to help facilitate the development of realistic action plans on women, peace and security through the provision of good practices, specific recommendations and a six-step model process. The guide is designed as a resource for governments, United Nations and regional organisations as well as NGOs who are interested in developing plans and policies on women, peace and security issues.
Beyond Victimhood: Women's Peacebuilding in Sudan, Congo and Uganda
International Crisis Group, June 2006
Peacebuilding cannot succeed if half the population is excluded from the process. Research in Sudan, the DRC and Uganda suggests that peace agreements, post-conflict reconstruction, and governance do better when women are involved. Women make a difference, in part because they adopt a more inclusive approach toward security and address key social and economic issues that would otherwise be ignored. But in all three countries, they remain marginalised in formal processes and under-represented in the security sector as a whole. Governments and the international community must do much more to support women peace activists.
The Effects of Conflict on Health and Well-being of Women and Girls in Darfur - Situational Analysis Report: Conversations with the Community
UNICEF & UNFPA, September 2005
This report provides an overview of community perceptions about the risks women and girls currently face in Darfur as a result of the conflict, expressed concerns for their physical and mental recovery, traditional coping strategies and the gaps in services and opportunities which are discerned by community members. The situational analysis is a community-based investigation, meant to provide some insight as to how the international community can better shape its response through recognition and respect for these perceptions and preferences and the resources that are needed to improve women and girls’ health and well-being. The situational analysis was not designed to determine the prevalence of any specific health problems nor to assign blame. It is also not designed to present a comprehensive overview of the health situation in Darfur.
Gender, Conflict, and Development
The World Bank, October 2004
This book highlights the gender dimensions of conflict, organized around major relevant themes such as female combatants, sexual violence, formal and informal peace processes, the legal framework, work, the rehabilitation of social services and community-driven development. It analyzes how conflict changes gender roles and the policy options that might be considered to build on positive aspects while minimizing adverse changes. The suggested policy options and approaches aim to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by violent conflict to encourage change and build more inclusive and gender balanced social, economic and political relations in post-conflict societies. The book concludes by identifying some of the remaining challenges and themes that require additional analysis and research.
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