NPA's All-Female Demining Team in Sudan
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Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 12 Issue 2 The Journal of ERW and Mine Action Article 7 March 2008 NPA’s All-female Demining Team in Sudan CISR JOURNAL Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU (CISR) Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation JOURNAL, CISR (2008) "NPA’s All-female Demining Team in Sudan," The Journal of ERW and Mine Action : Vol. 12 : Iss. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol12/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. JOURNAL: NPA’s All-female Demining Team in Sudan under the auspices of the CMAA. Howev- However, if this pigeonholing is what the gender be accomplished in a comprehensive manner er, several problems mar the effectiveness of aspects of the mine-action strategies of the CMAA without including a gendered component that is these initiatives. First of all, “gender” seems amounts to, it does not qualify as mainstreaming mainstreamed through all aspects of the work to be synonymous with “women,” an unfortu- in the real meaning of the concept. of the sector, including the cooperation with NPA’s All-female Demining Team in Sudan nate misconception often encountered when Some efforts are necessary to mend the development organizations and private entities. gender mainstreaming is on the agenda in gender gap in the efficiency of the community The community consultations are a good place Norwegian People’s Aid’s commitment to gender mainstreaming in mine action is reflected by the organization’s many sectors. Second, instead of focusing on consultations. First, the issue of prejudice against to start, as they constitute a cross-cutting activity ensuring the equal access of women to benefits women on the part of the mine-action staff needs that is relevant to the practical efficiency of the present work in Sudan. This article looks at the successes of the country’s first all-female demining team, and influence in the sector of mine action, the to be addressed through gender training tailored clearance. Consultations also ensure a fairly equal focus seems to be on finding female-specific to the domestic and local context. In Cambodia, distribution of benefits arising from clearance established in 2007, as well as at the larger cultural and practical considerations of women in demining. aspects in the sector and nurturing these. For earlier efforts at community consultations have activities. Also, by acknowledging and seeking example, CMAA wants to target women for shown that even if the organization in question the advice and knowledge of local women, mine- action organizations help to challenge the existing gender biases and depreciation especially of women in rural Cambodia and also Cambodian society in general. The benefits of removing the obstacles for female participation and contribution to the rebuilding and development of a country should be self-evident, and successful gender mainstreaming in mine action needs to reflect this fact in all its strategies. See Endnotes, page 110 Female deminer at Limbe Bridge task, Lainya, Central Equatoria. Mary Opani, team leader. PhOTO COUrtESY OF JahlE AUSET PhOTO COUrtESY OF JahlE AUSET Hilde Vandeskog Wallacher is a by Leah Young [ Mine Action Information Center ] researcher with the Assistance to Mine Affected Communities project at the International Peace Research orwegian People’s Aid has always held the opinion that wom- Sudan People’s Liberation Army for security purposes. After that, Institute, Oslo, Norway. She holds a en should have equal employment rights to all jobs—including successful candidates began a four-week basic demining course.1 Master of Arts in human-rights studies those in every aspect of demining.1 It has demonstrated this be- Many advantages exist in facilitating all-female demining teams. from the Norwegian Centre for Human N lief by involving women in many of its demining projects around the First, avoiding mixed-gender teams addresses the practical concerns of Rights. She has previously published reports and conference papers on world. Past NPA projects that incorporated women in the demining deminers living together in a small working environment. Second, all- gender mainstreaming in mine action process include clearance projects in Bosnia, Croatia, Iraq, Kosovo and female demining teams ensure a “gender balance” within NPA’s demin- and is also conducting research on Sri Lanka, all of which were successful. The positive feedback concern- ing programs, providing not only equal employment opportunities to the international regulations of arms trade. ing female participation in these projects encouraged NPA to continue women, but also bringing female perspectives to the traditionally male- training women to take part in demining—even in its most recent proj- dominated field. All-women teams also create unique positions in local Donning the necessary protective equipment. Hilde Vandeskog Wallacher 1 1 Researcher ect in war-torn southern Sudan. communities for women to be role models for others. NPA has not ob- employment in the mine-risk education sec- invites women to the meetings and facilitates Assistance to Mine Affected served any drawbacks or weaknesses in these teams. Although the female tor based on their perceived skills in teaching for their presence, women’s voices would Communities Project Female Demining in Sudan teams may require slight increases in donor funding, to assist with the and communicating with children. still generally not be heard. Second, the fact International Peace Research NPA has been involved in mine clearance in Sudan since April 2004, expenses associated with maternity leave, NPA says that donors “have Institute, Oslo 1 While this stereotype may be true based that many of the women lack the skills and Hausmansgate 7 when it established its first program in the nation, a traditional all-male responded very well.” on traditional divisions of labor in communi- experience needed to get their views across N-0186 Oslo / Norway team. Soon after, however, in 2005, training for the first female deminers The women of South Sudan. The culture of South Sudan is known ties, it doesn’t help the broader goals of gender needs to be acknowledged and ameliorated. This Tel: +47 225 477 05 in Sudan began, leading to the formation of the first all-female demining for its conservative nature. Initially, this emphasis on tradition was seen mainstreaming. The approach is too narrow deficiency is often related to very specific skills E-mail: [email protected] team in the country, which officially came together in 2007.1 The govern- as a potential cultural hindrance as the first all-female demining team and does not reflect the necessity of ensuring needed, such as the ability to understand and ment of South Sudan is working on gender mainstreaming within its was formed and women began to take on roles traditionally viewed as women have equal access to benefits and influ- draw maps, suggesting a need for creativity in employment ranks, setting a target of having females serve as 25 per- masculine.2 This traditional culture, however, has not been a deterrent ence. Instead, it takes a traditionalist view on the way consultations are carried out to ensure cent of its agencies’ workforce. NPA’s mine-action programs in Sudan to the process. The majority of the female deminers say that their in- the role of women and seeks to accommodate that women are able to express their views aimed for this gender-mainstreaming goal and made the 25-percent tar- volvement has not been discouraged, but rather that their friends and women into the mine-action work within the and to share their knowledge and experience get a reality, assimilating women into every part of demining operations, families have been very supportive of their involvement in mine clear- framework of these roles. Clearly, this acknowl- without being hindered by their lack of specific including the operational and support departments.1 ance.2 Their participation in the program gives them not only an op- edgement of the particular skills and resources skills. In a stable, post-conflict situation such NPA did not take any special measures to recruit the women it portunity outside of the home to earn extra money for their families, of the female side of the community is positive as Cambodia, mine clearance should and can trained. The recruitment of female staff was conducted within Yei but it also is “a source of pride for the women” as they help rebuild their in and of itself and may certainly be an impor- be seen in a broader context of reconstruction, county, Central Equatoria, where advertisements were posted around nation after the country’s second civil war (1983–2005).2,3 The only is- tant part of the gender-mainstreaming process. development and progress. This feat cannot the town area. Applicants were interviewed and then screened by the sue that the NPA needed to take into account, the organization says, 22 | focus | the journal of ERW and mine action | winter 2008/09 | 12.2 Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2008 12.2 | winter 2008/09 | the journal of ERW and mine action | focus | 23 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 12, Iss. 2 [2008], Art. 7 Continued commitment to gender main- streaming. NPA has found that in these war- torn communities it is typically women who Gender in the Mine-action Community are involved in gathering wood and water for their families in more remote locations.