Women in Conflict and Peace Women in Conflict and Peace and Conflict in Women
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Women in Conflict and Peace Women in Conflict and Peace What is the role that women from marginalized communities play in conflict, peacemaking and democratization? Which factors lie behind their involvement in armed conflict? What are the consequences of women’s inclusion and exclusion from peacebuilding activities? These are some of the questions explored in Women in Conflict and Peace. Drawing on four case studies from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Rwanda and the Philippines, this publication analyses the impact of women on intrastate conflict and peacebuilding, concluding with recommendations that international and local actors can implement to enhance the participation of marginalized women in future peace- and democracy-building initiatives. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) Strömsborg, SE-103 34 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 698 37 00, fax: +46 8 20 24 22 E-mail: [email protected], website: www.idea.int ISBN: 978-91-7671-014-2 Women in Conflict and Peace Women in Conflict and Peace Editors Jenny Hedström Thiyumi Senarathna Contributors Rosalie Arcala Hall Sara E. Brown Jenny Hedström Anna Larson Joanna Pares Hoare International IDEA © International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2015 International IDEA publications are independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of International IDEA, its Board or its Council members. Applications for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of this publication should be made to: International IDEA Strömsborg SE -103 34 Stockholm Sweden E-mail: [email protected], website: www.idea.int International IDEA encourages dissemination of its work and will promptly respond to requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications. The electronic version of this publication is available under a Creative Commons Licence (CCl)—Creative Commons Attribute-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Licence. You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the publication, as well as to remix and adapt it, provided it is only for non-commercial purposes, that you appropriately attribute the publication and that you distribute it under an identical license. For more information on this CCl, see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/. Graphic design by: Turbo Design, Ramallah Cover Design by: Turbo Design, Ramallah Cover image: © photographer and artist: Oscar González Printed by: Bulls Graphics, Sweden ISBN: 978-91-7671-014-2 Preface The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is committed to developing resources and sharing good practices in support of sustainable democracy worldwide. Our aim is to inspire dialogue and to catalyse positive change toward more equitable and inclusive political processes. We believe that increasing marginalized people’s participation in politics and securing their access to public life is of particular importance to democratic development and sustainability. To this end, International IDEA is exploring ways in which peacebuilding processes can be supported and strengthened to encourage greater participation and inclusion of marginalized people and minority groups. In this context, International IDEA strives to promote participation and representation of women. We recognize that democratic reforms will be flawed if they exclude women from participating effectively. The research presented in this publication focuses on women from marginalized communities. It aims to increase their visibility and recognition as stakeholders in political reforms and to raise awareness about strategies and practices to enhance their participation in political life. This publication brings together original research from four conflicts in which differences based on intersections of identities, such as class, religion and ethnicity, have played a crucial role in the sustainment of the conflict and the subsequent success or failure of democratic interventions. Drawing from a spectrum of case studies, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Philippines and Rwanda, this publication examines the complex role that women play as agents in both peace and conflict, concluding with lessons that both international and local communities can apply to future peace- and democracy-building initiatives. We hope that our readers will find this an illuminating and insightful publication. Yves Leterme Secretary-General International IDEA International IDEA 5 Acknowledgements Our thanks go to the case study authors—Anna Larson, Jenny Hedström, Joanna Pares Hoare, Rosalie Arcala Hall and Sara E. Brown—for their rigorous research producing a thought-provoking, insightful and engaging collection of lessons for both practitioners and policymakers interested in issues of gender, diversity and conflict. Special acknowledgement goes to Thiyumi Senarathna, without whose excellent research assistance this report would not have been what it is. Additional thanks go to Joanna Pares Hoare and Curtis Budden for their professional input in providing substantive feedback and timely editing of the report. The dedication and encouragement of the Democracy and Diversity team has been invaluable, and we want to especially thank Julian Smith, Lina Antara and Jenefrieda Isberg for their support and assistance. We would also like to thank the following colleagues at International IDEA, who have generously given their time, ideas and insights during the development of this book: Kimana Zulueta-Fuelscher, Melanie Allen, Nana Kalandadze and Nyla Grace Prieto. Thanks also go to International IDEA colleagues Lisa Hagman and Fredrik Larsson. Lastly, we would like to thank our peer reviewers Elin Bjarnegård and Johanna Mannergren Selimovic. 6 International IDEA Contents Preface ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... 6 Abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................................. 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11 Afghanistan .......................................................................................................................... 29 Anna Larson Myanmar ................................................................................................................................ 61 Jenny Hedström Philippines ............................................................................................................................ 89 Rosalie Arcala Hall and Joanna Pares Hoare Rwanda ................................................................................................................................... 123 Sara E. Brown Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 155 About the authors ........................................................................................................... 166 International IDEA at a glance ............................................................................... 168 International IDEA 7 Abbreviations and acronyms AERG Association of Student Survivors of the Genocide (Association des Étudiants et Élèves Rescapés du Genocide) ANA Afghan National Army ANP Afghan National Police ANSF Afghan National Security Forces AOG Armed opposition group ARMM Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao AVEGA Association of Genocide Widows (Association des Veuves du Genocide) BBL Bangsamoro Basic Law BDA Bangsamoro Development Agency BPE Bangsamoro Political Entity BTC Bangsamoro Transition Commission CAB Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro CBDR Community-based dispute resolution CDC Community development council CNLG National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (Rwanda) DDR Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration DDRRR UN Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reintegration and Resettlement DOWA Department of Women’s Affairs DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo FDLR Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda) FPA 1996 Final Peace Agreement GAD Gender and development HPC High Peace Council ICTR International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda IDP Internally displaced person ISI Pakistani intelligence service KIA Kachin Independence Army KIO Kachin Independence Organization 8 International IDEA MILF Moro Islamic Liberation Front MILF-BIAF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces MNLF Moro National Liberation Front MP Member of Parliament MPC Myanmar Peace Centre MRND National Revolutionary Movement for Development (Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement) MTF World Bank Mindanao Trust Fund NCCT Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team NGO Non-governmental organization NSP National Solidarity Programme PDPA People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan PPC provincial peace council RAWA Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan RCBW Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women RPF Rwanda Patriotic Front RTLM Free Radio and Television of the Thousand Hills Radio-Télévision( Libre des Milles Collines) SPBC ARMM Special Pre-qualification Bids and Awards Committee UN United Nations UNPO Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization UNSCR United Nations Security Council Resolution