Women and War

SPECIAL REPORT

Women and War

International Committee of the Red Cross, External Resources, 19 Avenue de la Paix, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, T + 41 22 734 6001, E-mail: [email protected], www.icrc.org The purpose of this report is to provide an update of the ICRC's actions since the publication of the Women facing War study and the subsequent commitment to the identification of and response to both the general and specific needs of women affected by conflict. Women and War Special Report Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface 5

The Study 7 Background and methodology 7 General conclusions of the study 7

Plan of Action 10

Implementation 11 Implementation through ICRC delegations worldwide 13

Resource Allocation 22

Challenges Ahead 22

Annex Women and War material 23 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 5

Preface

he specific situation of women affected by Just as the situation faced by women in wartime armed conflict was one of the issues varies from place to place and from context to Taddressed by the 27th International Red context so too do the responses needed to assist Cross and Red Crescent Conference (Geneva, and protect women who have suffered or who are October 1999). The ICRC took this opportunity to suffering from their exposure to war. The situa- pledge that it would take appropriate action to tions and contexts faced by these women are assess and address the specific protection, often unique and each needs to be assessed in health and assistance needs of women and girls its own right; programmes therefore are often affected by armed conflict to alleviate the plight of required to be tailored to the specific realities that the most vulnerable. It insisted on the need for all the ICRC encounters in its assessments in the parties to a conflict to respect women and girls, field. In practical terms this means, for example, and emphasized that all forms of sexual violence that a programme in one country to assist women are prohibited. who have survived sexual violence may not be appropriate in another country (and sometimes Despite a full panoply of laws to protect women in even within different parts of the same country). war, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law, women con- The ICRC's commitment to Women and War is tinue to suffer unnecessarily in wartime, because just as strong - if not stronger - today than it was the laws that are meant to protect them are all too in 1998 when the study was initiated. Its work for frequently not respected and/or implemented. women facing war will continue. Yet, the fact The ICRC is determined to increase its efforts to remains that women are suffering unnecessarily ensure that these laws are implemented and it in wartime. Why? For the simple reason that the will continue to strengthen, where necessary, its laws to protect them, of which there are many, action in favour of women affected by armed con- are all too frequently disregarded. The challenge flict. is to increase respect for and implementation of these laws. The title of the ICRC study on the impact of armed conflict on women, and the accompanying video, is Women facing War. For the ICRC, this title summed up the fact that women are faced Charlotte Lindsey with the day-to-day consequences of hostilities in Head of Women and War Project trying to go about their lives, and facing the dan- gers, obstacles and losses in trying to hold together their lives and those of their families, as well as the fact that some women face war as members of armed forces or groups. The Women facing War study describes the numerous initiatives that the ICRC has undertaken to try to ensure and reinforce observance of legal instru- ments designed to protect women and girls affected by armed conflict and is endeavoring to ensure that its conclusions and recommenda- tions are translated into action. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 7

The Study

Background and methodology comprehensive response to sexual violence l it is important to involve women in the assess- Three years ago, the ICRC conducted a study ment, implementation and evaluation of pro- aimed at improving its understanding of the spe- grammes and activities carried out in their cific impact of armed conflict on women. The favour study, known as Women facing War, assessed l in its focus on women, the Women facing War the needs of women in war, the protection pro- study does not negate the needs of men vided for women by international humanitarian l in the waging of today’s war, parties to armed law, human rights law and refugee law, and ICRC conflict are more and more often not distin- activities on behalf of women throughout its guishing between combatants and civilians. worldwide operations. The blurring of this distinction risks an unacceptable spiral towards “total war” (i.e. any The study was published in English in October civilian, solely through their presence in an 2001 and later published in French, Spanish, area where war is being waged, risks being Arabic and Russian. Based on this work, the targeted by a party to an armed conflict.) ICRC drew up a plan of action that focused on l access to victims and conflict-affected areas is helping it implement the findings of the study (and absolutely essential in order to try to put a stop its pledge), with the desired effect being the to violations and/or to try to bring assistance improvement in quality, relevance and impact of and protection to affected persons. ICRC programmes. The study concluded that: women are not solely The ICRC study Women facing War, focused on “victims” or “vulnerable” in need of protection and such issues as physical safety, sexual violence, assistance. It drew attention to the fact that displacement, access to health care and hygiene, women take part in armed conflicts as members food, water and shelter, the problem of missing of the regular armed forces or armed groups and relatives and its impact on survivors, access to in their support services. This means that women personal documentation, access to sources of in such circumstances cannot be automatically livelihood, as well as the situations of detention labelled as “vulnerable”. Women are also politi- and internment. cians, leaders of non-governmental organisations, social and political groups, and active par- General conclusions of the ticipants in peace campaigns. Women facing War study As members of the civilian population, women l Women should not be considered solely as have important, and often crucial, social and “victims” or “vulnerable” household economic roles, as well as skills that l women experience armed conflicts in a multi- enable them to deal with the increased stresses tude of ways and burdens placed on them in wartime. For l international humanitarian law, human rights example, women have initiated small enterprises and refugee law afford protection according to and income-generating projects with meagre the needs of women in situations of armed resources within their devastated communities conflicts and within camps for the displaced. Women in l women suffer in war today not because of an wartime show tremendous courage and absence of law, but because of the lack of resilience as survivors and as heads of house- implementation of, and/or respect for, existing holds - a role that many of them have had little or laws no preparation for and which is made more diffi- l sexual violence is unacceptable and not cult by the social constraints often imposed upon inevitable. There needs to be a much more them. 8 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

A woman enjoys a quiet moment with her child at an ICRC distribution point

The vulnerability of different groups - whether bearers of culture and ethnic identity, as well as male, female, elderly or infant - will differ, accord- the producers of the future generations of their ing to their exposure to a given problem, their community. In such situations women may be vul- capacity to deal with it and its impact on the group nerable to attack or threats from their own com- concerned. Vulnerability, as such, does not fit into munity for not conforming to this role. Conversely, an easily determined category or definition - an adversary may target women in an effort to especially where women are concerned. It is subvert or destroy their function in this role. therefore in accordance with the specific nature Victims are often reticent, as well, to speak about of each situation and the different factors involved or to report incidents of sexual violence. Many that groups of women could be identified as being times, when such a crime becomes known, particularly at risk and in need of special assis- women can be ostracized from their community tance, e.g. pregnant women, nursing mothers, and even risk injury, imprisonment or death. widows, mothers of small children or female heads of household. The study determined that, on the whole, international law adequately covers the needs of women It should also be recognised that women are par- in situations of armed conflict, when the three ticularly susceptible to marginalization, poverty bodies of law – international humanitarian law, and the suffering engendered by armed conflict, human rights and refugee law in particular – are especially when they are already victims of dis- taken together. This means that sexual violence, crimination in peacetime. Women may be partic- in all its forms, as well as indiscriminate attacks, ularly vulnerable if they are held up as “symbolic” violence and threats are prohibited under interna- Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 9 tional humanitarian law. Why then are women part in hostilities must be better disseminated to subjected to such violations? The issue in reality all parties to an armed conflict, armed forces, is that this law is all too frequently ignored; there- security forces and police forces. This law needs fore, the difficulty lies in assuring its implementa- to be better understood, enforced and respected. tion and respect. In addition to trying to prevent sexual violence, more needs to be done to assist and support Furthermore, the study determined that the need those who are victims of such violations. to assure protection for women taking no active

Women gather together in prayer at a memorial service dedicated to their missing relatives 10 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

Plan of Action

The plan of action – drawn up as an internal tool to implement the findings of the Women facing War study - focused upon three main goals: l The specific needs, including protection, health and assistance, of women and girls affected by armed conflict are appropriately assessed and addressed l International humanitarian law – and in particular the protection accorded to women and girls affected by armed conflict – is promoted to as wide an audience as possible l A guidance document for the needs, including protection, health and assistance, of women and girls affected by armed conflict, is produced to guide ICRC programmes and to be presented to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference in 2003.

The publication of the study, the adoption of this plan of action, as well as the pledge made to women by the ICRC, highlights the ICRC’s continued commitment to improving its response to the needs of women affected by armed conflict. Through this plan of action the ICRC is applying the study findings to help improve, where necessary, the quality, relevance and impact of ICRC programmes. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 11

Implementation

The ICRC is already doing much around the Further to a review of its dissemination literature world and in the different Divisions at the ICRC and training materials, including the messages headquarters in Geneva to improve the situation disseminated by the ICRC in relation to: (a) the of women affected by armed conflict. The ICRC’s protection of women, and (b) sexual violence, Women and War Project has already responded communication guidelines were created and cir- to requests from ICRC delegations around the culated throughout the ICRC, thereby allowing world to conduct assessment missions, assist new materials and literature to take its recom- programmes and to help to address issues con- mendations into consideration. cerning women. In carrying out specific assessments, the ICRC endeavours to ensure that the A series of fact sheets, posters and videos has necessary steps are taken to identify and consid- also been produced highlighting the various ways er the general and specific protection, health and in which women are affected by armed conflict, assistance needs of women affected by armed promoting the relevant rules of war pertinent to conflict. For example, the ICRC is endeavouring women, including the prohibition of sexual vio- to develop and strengthen its response to the lence. Additionally, a series of audiovisual com- needs of victims of sexual violence to ensure that munication tools (see Annex) was produced at they receive appropriate reception, advice, pro- both the ICRC headquarters and in its delega- tection, medical care and follow-up. Additionally, tions in the field promoting and raising awareness implementation of this plan of action includes of the impact that war has on women. Specifically consideration of the needs of women and the tailored awareness campaigns have been con- inclusion of women in programmes for tracing ducted through many ICRC delegations, includ- missing relatives and reuniting families, assis- ing the regional delegations of Dakar, Pretoria, tance programmes for food, water and hygiene, Yaoundé, Nigeria, Buenos Aires and Moscow. sources of livelihood and shelter.

A woman talks with an ICRC delegate, surrounded by the rubble of her destroyed house 12 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

Women gather at an ICRC distribution point in the early hours of the morning, waiting to receive their share of food and non-food assistance

An assessment of the ICRC’s Integration Course, international peace support personnel in various which orients all new staff members concerning locations throughout the world. the ICRC history, programmes and mandate, was also undertaken to look at how it addressed Important to note is the institutional integrated issues related to women and to sexual violence. approach that is employed by the ICRC. In prac- Following this, the course is in the process of tice, this means that an inter-departmental being revised. The object was not to create a new approach is favoured whereby specific responsi- module regarding women in this orientation pro- bilities for ensuring concerns and issues related cedure, but to better integrate any issues relating to women are integrated throughout the ICRC’s to women affected by conflict and sexual violence four existing programme areas – assistance; pro- into the ICRC’s overall training on its mandate tection; cooperation within the Red Cross/Red and programmes. Crescent Movement; and preventive action – rather than being the sole responsibility of one Externally, the Women and War Project has given department. The goal is to integrate fully, across more than fifty presentations throughout the the range of programmes, the general and spe- world to further foster awareness of and adher- cific needs that affect women caught up in armed ence to the protection afforded to women by conflict. A major ongoing component of this international humanitarian law. Representatives approach is to sensitize ICRC staff to a level from organizations and governments worldwide, where the awareness of the ways women are whose activities and policies can affect the plight affected by armed conflict and their needs is an of women victims of armed conflict, have partici- integral part of everyday work. The aim is to cul- pated in ICRC-organized seminars on this issue. tivate a heightened awareness and ‘planning reflex’ that better includes, addresses and inte- Also, three times a year, the Women and War grates the needs of women affected by armed Project conducts the Women in Conflict module conflict into operational planning and priorities. of the UNITAR/DPKO1 training course, offered to

1 United Nations Institute for Training and Research / Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 13

Implementation through ICRC delegations worldwide

Over the last three years, the ICRC has already strengthening of existing coping skills and the made considerable efforts to put into practice the development of new ones. general findings and conclusions of its study. In the following section, and in relation to the con- For example, little is known of the situation of clusions of the study, can be found, a selection of women in detention, however the Women facing actual examples of how this work has been trans- War study draws attention to the plight of women lated into concrete action on the ground: deprived of their liberty. The ICRC is conducting programmes throughout the world in order to Women experience armed conflicts improve their situation. in a multitude of ways Special programmes have been set up and car- War - whether international or non-international - ried out for the authorities and other organiza- causes enormous suffering for those caught up in tions, in which ICRC participates in training pro- it. The Women facing War study demonstrates grammes of the detaining authorities. The pur- that women experience war in a multitude of pose of these sessions is to inform prison direc- ways - from taking an active part as combatants tors and specialized female staff of the general to being targeted as members of the civilian pop- and specific needs and requirements of female ulation or because they are women. War forces detainees. women into unfamiliar roles and necessitates the

Amanda, imprisoned for her role as a combatant in an armed conflict, copes with life behind bars 14 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

Women queue patiently during a family visit to a prison

In particular, the ICRC actively assesses the con- guidance is routinely given to ICRC delegates ditions of detention of women in respect to inter- whose work encompasses visits to places of national standards of human rights and interna- detention. The ICRC’s health and assistance tional humanitarian law. Specifically, the ICRC activities have also been the subject of particular tries to ensure: attention, and the ICRC will continue to do its l that women are efficiently protected from inhu- utmost to respond to women’s particular needs in man or degrading treatment an effective way. l appropriate detention conditions exist for women and that any specific conditions for In Yemen special attention has been placed upon mothers with children are met the assessment of the physical and psychological l women are detained in separate quarters from condition of women detainees. Specifically, the male detainees ICRC regularly visited a number of detained l women are guarded by female staff women with the aim of reducing their isolation, fol- l the presence of female prison staff and that lowing up on previously administered medical care they are appropriately trained to deal with and organizing vocational and literacy training. female detainees l women have the possibility to maintain contact In collaboration with the prison authorities in with their families, and where possible, receive Colombia the ICRC is carrying out innovative family visits health promotion and prevention activities among l judicial guarantees are fully respected. the female prison population in Bogotá, Medellin and Bucaramanga. In particular, the programme In the context of its activities for women detained addresses the problem of breast cancer by con- in connection with armed conflict or internal dis- ducting regular clinics to detect or treat the preva- turbances the ICRC has also provided guidance lence of the cancer among women inmates. To for its delegates aimed at helping them to recog- date some 90% of the inmates have participated nize issues specific to women in detention. This in this programme. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 15

The ICRC is endeavouring to support women in the techniques of seed multiplication women in strengthening existing coping (replicating seeds for the continued sowing of fur- mechanisms through such initiatives as ther crops), and to address, in an integrated fash- economic programmes for the benefit of ion, the women’s needs in terms of training and women and their households. materials for vegetable growing. These programmes offered women affected by the conflict In Sierra Leone since the year 2000, a pro- two basic benefits. Firstly, community-based veg- gramme sought to address the fact that sixty etable seed support. During 2000-2001, through thousand (60,000) women were affected by the a total of 917 co-operative associations 71,442 conflict in the Western Area, Tonkolili, Kenema, women received vegetable seeds and tools, to Pujehun and Kailahun Districts. The objective restore and enhance their traditional economic was to restore their traditional economic activity activity. Secondly, training was necessary to and enhance their income generating capabilities maintain self-sufficiency. Representatives of each through associative vegetable production. of the women’s associations were trained in veg- Additionally, the programme aimed to improve etable growing and seed multiplication tech- the diet and maintain the pre-war food security niques through one-week workshops. Then, dur- levels of the families. ing 2002, 415 women’s associations in eastern Sierra Leone were assisted with the same pro- The ICRC identified women’s associations inter- grammes, through the joint efforts of the ICRC, ested in participating in these economic pro- the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and the grammes. It was also important to ensure self- Ministry of Agricultural. sustainability of the programmes by training

As part of an ICRC training project women tend to their crops, producing vegetables that provide a stimulus for the local economy and contribute towards self-sufficiency 16 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

A range of other ICRC programmes is addressing academic circles. The event received extensive this issue, such as in: coverage in national and regional media. l Sri Lanka – where a programme has been instigated to benefit female-headed house- In Sierra Leone, a dissemination initiative was holds and widows, and to assure they have designed to inform approximately 100 women the economic means to sustain their families about the essential concepts of IHL and gain their and live in decent conditions commitment to promoting IHL within their associ- l Eritrea – a programme has been conducted to ations, their families and communities and to help women affected by the armed conflict to emphasize the message of child protection, par- leave camps for internally displaced people ticularly against their participation in war. and to resettle in decent housing conditions, specifically by providing the means and mate- In Somalia, women now provide an important rials to rebuild homes source of information on their particular needs in l Ethiopia – where work is underway with the terms of protection, while also constituting a reli- local authorities and local community leaders able relay for spreading knowledge of the basic to address the needs of women affected by rules of IHL. It has been the goal of the ICRC to violence in conflict prone areas. The resulting help women be the driving force behind this wider Village Health Programme ensures that dissemination programme. women have access to health care and trains women in basic hygiene and to identify the In Syria, a ‘Women and War Week’ was held in most common health problems 2002 which centred on increasing the under- l Rwanda - female victims of the 1994 genocide standing about the wide range of ways in which and the internal conflict have been encour- women are affected by conflict. During this cul- aged to come together in associations and are tural week in Damascus, and in a continuing then supported through small scale, agro-pas- effort to promote ‘apolitical’ debate on the issue, toral projects. Being united in associations has a round table was held on the impact of war on contributed to improving these women’s women from the perspective of Syrian women access to governmental technical services, writers. These public events attended by the while serving to strengthen the solidarity diplomatic and academic communities provided a among these survivors of conflict. platform for dissemination of the issues highlight- ed by the Women facing War study and received International humanitarian law (IHL), human excellent media coverage. rights and refugee law afford protection according to the needs of women in The study concludes that it is important to situations of armed conflicts. reiterate whenever and wherever possible The problem is a lack of implementation of, that sexual violence is unacceptable and and/or respect for, these laws. not inevitable and that there must be a much more comprehensive response The protection of women in armed conflict is ade- to sexual violence. quately addressed in international law. If women are suffering in situations of armed conflict it is Prohibitions of rape and other forms of sexual not because of a lack of laws protecting them but violence stipulated in international humanitarian because these laws are not implemented and/or law must be included in national law and in the respected. The general and specific protection to military codes and training manuals of arms bear- which women are entitled must become a reality. ers. Sexual violence is prohibited against men, women, girls or boys. Breaches of this law and of In Jordan, Her Majesty Queen Raina Al-Abdullah instructions given to arms bearers must be of Jordan launched the Arabic version of Women appropriately addressed. Rape is preventable; facing War to several hundred representatives this must be recognised and realized. from the political, military, diplomatic and Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 17

"This man had a gun. And he had the power. I just wanted my life to be spared". Sarah, a civilian caught up in the armed conflict in her country, and a survivor of sexual violence, recounts her horrific experience to an ICRC field worker.

Further to increased efforts to put an end to vio- had been direct victims of violence. ICRC dele- lations of international law, there must be a gates visited some of these workshops to assess strengthened capacity for monitoring violations the effectiveness and application of these learn- against women, such as sexual violence. Victims ing sessions, and their findings underlined the of sexual violence need rapid access to appropri- necessity for this programme. The ICRC has ate and adequate medical and health care been intent on extending this programme through (including pre- and postnatal care for those who other activities designed to assist survivors of vio- have become pregnant) and may need coun- lence and to involve psychologists more in work- selling. In order to avoid the risk of ostracism or ing together with the women. In an initial assess- punishment because they have been the victims ment, an ICRC psychiatrist concluded that of sexual violence (a very real risk in many com- women who experienced violence were best munities), victims need an appropriate environ- treated in an environment that allowed them to ment in which to relate and report their experi- mix with others who had not endured such trau- ences. Their situation needs to be handled confi- ma. dentially and sensitively, taking into account their cultural background. In Burundi - a programme was initiated to closely involve local organizations to support women In Algeria since 1999, the ICRC, together with who have suffered acts of sexual violence as a the Algerian Red Crescent Society, financed the result of conflict. Some 60 traditional birth atten- establishment of eight sewing and embroidery dants have been trained to identify victims of sex- workshops for women. Ongoing today, this pro- ual violence and to be able to give them a suit- ject has enabled hundreds of women to learn able medical response, and if required, to refer sewing and embroidery, thus creating additional the women to appropriate organizations for fur- skills and an economic means to help the partici- ther care and support. pants. Of these women it was estimated that 20% 18 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

Importance of involving women in Access to victims and conflict-affected programmes and activities carried out areas is absolutely essential in their favour The ICRC’s experience of working in situations of Women should be involved in the planning, armed conflict was vital in carrying out the implementation and evaluation of assistance pro- Women facing War study not only in understand- grammes carried out in their favour in order to ing the impact that war has on women but in rela- increase knowledge of their specific problems tion to the operational responses that have had and needs and to implement controls to ensure an impact in bringing assistance and protection to that women are not being exploited or abused to those affected by war. be included as beneficiaries. Such involvement of women can afford them better protection and States have the responsibility to care for their cit- assistance as specific concerns related to women izens. As their needs are often not met, civilian can be raised and addressed throughout the pro- populations in situations of armed conflict need to gramme life cycle. be able to reach and be reached by international humanitarian organizations, like the ICRC. Currently, in its Afghanistan operation, the ICRC Unfortunately, organizations such as the ICRC is making determined efforts to better integrate are sometimes denied access to areas where women in the design and implementation of its and when the worst abuses against protected various programmes. A team of ten ICRC female populations are taking place either because of hygiene promoters work on a daily basis carrying the refusal of the relevant party to the conflict to out awareness sessions to households in Kabul; grant such access or because of threats to or eleven women engineers are working in the attacks upon personnel. Negotiating access to water and sanitation programme country-wide; a those in need is a sensitive and crucial aspect of team of female mine awareness instructors oper- the provision of protection and assistance for vic- ate through schools and clinics reaching women tims of war, calling for dialogue with all parties to at risk in mine-contaminated communities; and the conflict. It is essential that access to popula- the ICRC orthopaedic centres have teams of tions affected by armed conflict and conflict- women physiotherapists (in accordance with its affected areas is provided for international employment policy) working with disabled female humanitarian organizations such as the ICRC in patients. order to improve the situation of women affected by armed conflict. The ICRC Mission in Kosovo organised a round- table on how women can play a positive role in The distinction between combatants and preventing and reducing the level of violence in civilians is becoming more and more blurred their communities. Such initiatives demonstrate – an unacceptable spiral towards “total war” that, just as women have sometimes directly participated in armed conflict, they also have been Civilians are increasingly placed at the heart of central to the implementation of the reconciliation conflicts, endangered because of the proximity of and reconstruction processes. The round-table the fighting, deliberately targeted and often took place at the ICRC office in Pristina, and par- actively mobilized or forced to choose sides. It is ticipants included representatives from NGOs and accepted that there are limits to warfare, yet key personalities from Kosovo civil society repre- those limits are regularly breached, and women senting various communities – one of the first are now increasingly at risk. The thinking on times that members of both communities had sat Women facing War leads the ICRC to a funda- around the same table since the end of the conflict. mental question: How can we secure respect for the distinction between civilians and combatants In the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, in tomorrow’s wars in order to prevent the pro- where 75% of the ICRC’s beneficiaries are gressive widening of the scope of violence? The women, assistance and protection programmes purpose of this reflection is to try to ensure better are planned and implemented by an ICRC team, protection for all. which has a 75% female staff. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 19

A physiotherapist helps a mine victim to regain her mobility at an ICRC orthopaedic centre

A mother and child, survivors of a recent conflict, bravely deal with life in a camp for amputees 20 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

A young woman, anxious for news of her missing brother, a captured soldier, looks through a family photo album for comfort

The Women facing War study does needs of women in wartime, but reinforcing its not negate the needs of men commitment to a “gendered” approach through recognition that the impact of war on women is It is important to note that in focusing specifically inextricably tied to the impact of war on men2. on the needs of women and not those of men, the This is not to deny that women face terrible hard- study in no way intends to negate the particular ships in armed conflict or have their own specific needs of men and men’s suffering in wartime or needs and vulnerabilities. On the contrary, it is to to infer that women hors de combat suffer more recognise that the fate of women can be than their male counterparts. Indeed, it is not so improved if humanitarian law is fully implemented easy to separate the impact of armed conflict on and respected with regard to both combatants women from the impact of armed conflict on men, and non-combatants, be they male or female. as they are members of the same families and communities, and the effects on the two groups One pertinent example of this approach is in are closely linked. It must not be forgotten that Bosnia and Herzegovina where the needs of men too are civilians, and many do not take up a women survivors of the conflict are particularly role in conflict situations. Furthermore, men are significant when addressing the broader issue of often targeted specifically, for example, for arbi- ‘the Missing’, that is, those unaccounted for as a trary military conscription through mass round- result of the war. Women have mobilised across ups of young men to serve on the front line, arbi- the country in order to jointly present their contrary detention, and disappearance or summary cerns, through the ICRC and other means, to the execution. In reaching this conclusion the ICRC authorities responsible so that they provide those is not backing away from a commitment to the left behind with news on the whereabouts of their

2 "Gender" refers to the socially defined or constructed roles, attitudes and values which societies and communities assign as appropriate for one sex or the other. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 21

For women like Dzidza, who for years are anxiously searching and waiting for news on the whereabouts of their missing relatives, the ICRC 'Book of Belongings' is often one of the best options left loved ones. ICRC has worked extensively on this measures adopted will be made known and issue, organised numerous round tables, public applied by governments and international and information campaigns and conferences in order national non-governmental organizations. to keep the issue of the Missing on the agenda – always mindful of the explicit needs of those, It is important to note that the ICRC’s “all victims mainly women, left behind who need to be able to approach” is the right approach for it to be able to carry on with their lives, comforted with knowl- respond to the needs of women. Neither the edge of the fate of their loved ones. Women facing War study, nor the pledge previously mentioned, alter the ICRC’s “all victims In particular, in February 2003, the ICRC con- approach” - to provide a comprehensive vened a landmark International Conference on response to the needs of all populations affected the Missing issue which brought together, from by armed conflict. The aim of both is to reinforce more than ninety countries, some four hundred this response through a better understanding of governmental and non-governmental experts, the needs and particular vulnerabilities of certain including members of family organisations, and categories of victims, in this instance women. ended with a strong call for action to clarify the Maintaining the “all victims approach” is important fate of people missing as a result of armed con- for the ICRC so as to be in a position to come to flict and internal violence and to support their the aid of those most in need. The special focus families. The conference reaffirmed that the fam- on women through the Women facing War study ilies of missing persons need material, financial, helped the ICRC to increase that understanding, psychological and legal support. It directed par- and to identify more precisely or more appropri- ticular attention to women and children who may ately those members of the female population find themselves in situations of acute destitution who are amongst the most at risk population (or and distress. The final success of the conference potential victims) of war. will be determined by the extent to which the 22 Women and War / Special Report / March 2003

Resource Allocation

Funds donated to the ICRC for programmes understanding and development of existing pro- assisting and protecting women may be dedicat- grammes, by more comprehensively designing ed to individual projects with women as the sole and implementing ICRC projects, that woman or specific target group, such as in Sierra Leone can be directly and rapidly assisted and protect- (see p.15) or alternatively, for programmes where ed. This approach has proven both sound and women are not necessarily the sole beneficiaries, effective, in terms of direct benefits to women such as in Afghanistan (see p.18). The ICRC is affected by armed conflict and to the better use of endeavouring to ensure that through better resources.

Challenges Ahead

The ICRC is already doing a lot for women and ensure the respect for that law are vital, as affected by armed conflict by providing assis- knowledge of the law is an obvious prerequisite tance and protection for women affected by for its respect. Thus, dissemination programmes armed conflict or internal disturbances in coun- are placing, and will continue to place, greater tries throughout the world. Displaced women, emphasis on the protection that humanitarian law detained women, women heading households affords women. made particularly vulnerable by hostilities, women in need of protection from threats or vio- The ICRC is currently formulating a guidance lence, those searching for their missing relatives document that aims to be a working tool for prac- and those in need of medical, food and material titioners to ensure the provision and delivery of assistance are seeking out - or are being sought appropriate programmes and services to, and out by - the ICRC. with, women affected by armed conflict. This document will be finalised in 2003 and presented to The ICRC is concerned about all the violations to States and National Societies at the International which women are subjected - indiscriminate Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference in attacks, forced displacement, disappearances - December 2003. and is endeavouring to strengthen its operational responses to such violations. Since undertaking In 2003, the ICRC will evaluate its work carried the study, the ICRC has realised that it could do out to date in relation to women and war. The aim specific dissemination among arms bearers in is to assess the impact of the implementation of relation to the needs of women, activities for sur- the pledge through ICRC operations and at its vivors of sexual violence, further development of headquarters. The evaluation will allow ICRC to existing expertise in protection activities for per- identify the successes and weaknesses in the sons hors de combat, and by referring women to implementation process thereby contributing to organizations that can provide appropriate assis- shaping its future work, and improving policy and tance. In its continuing efforts, particular focus is programme design and implementation in rela- being given to programmes responding to the tion to the needs of women affected by armed violation of sexual violence, for example, by try- conflict. ing to prevent its future occurrence through dissemination to parties to an armed conflict and The ICRC is endeavouring to do its part but with regard to advice and assistance to its female everyone must be made responsible for improv- and male victims. The ICRC’s activities to make ing the plight of women in times of war, and international humanitarian law better known by all women themselves must be more closely parties involved in armed conflict and to monitor involved in all the measures taken on their behalf. Women and War / Special Report / March 2003 23

Annex - Women and War material currently available

Women facing War study Women facing War video The ICRC study Women facing War is an extensive Series of 11 x 3 minutes films reference document on the impact of armed conflict on Eleven women tell their own individual stories of how the lives of women. Taking as its premise the needs of their lives have been affected by war. Coping with dis- women, e.g. physical safety, access to health care, placement, physical and sexual violence, missing rel- food and shelter, etc. in situations of armed conflict, atives, widowhood, detention... challenges and diffi- the Study explores the problems faced by women in culties that these and thousands of other women must wartime and the coping mechanisms they employ. A face in their daily lives. thorough analysis of international humanitarian law, and to a lesser extent human rights and refugee law, Filmed in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Latin was carried out as a means to assess the protection America, and Africa. afforded to women through these bodies of law. The CR-F-00685 An Urban Films Production for ICRC, Geneva, Study also includes a review of the ICRC’s operational 2001, Running time: 11 x 3-minutes response to the needs of women as victims of armed conflict. English, French, Spanish, Arabic available; Russian to be produced / CHF 30.- ICRC, Geneva, 2001, 274 p., 15,5cm x 23cm Working with Women in War video English, Arabic, French, Spanish and Russian / CHF 45.- / ref. 0798 While the ICRC works to help all victims of conflict without distinction, its work around the world recog- Women and War fact sheets nizes the specific needs of women facing war. This 10 A promotional folder with eight fact sheets, which can minute film shows how the ongoing work of the ICRC be ordered individually or as a set. These fact sheets benefits women affected by armed conflict shown here cover various problems faced by women in wartime, in the areas of emergency relief distribution; support including physical safety, sexual violence, detention, for families with missing relatives; protection; health missing relatives and displacement. Each fact sheet care and economic assistance. describes a particular problem, highlights the protec- CR-F-00686, ICRC, 2001, Running time: 10 min. 30 sec. tion afforded by international humanitarian law and how the ICRC responds. English, French, Spanish, Arabic available and Russian to be produced / free of charge. ICRC, Geneva, 2001, A4 Articles from the International Review of the English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian / Free of charge / Folder including 8 fact sheets: ref. 0797K Red Cross Women and war by Charlotte Lindsey Women and War posters (Sept. 2000, No. 839) A complement to the Women and War fact sheets, this The protection of women in humanitarian law series of five posters graphically highlights some of by Françoise Krill, (Dec. 1985, No. 249) the difficult situations faced by women in armed con- Special protection of women and children flict. They aim to create greater awareness of some of by J. de Preux, (Oct. 1985, No. 248) the specific problems faced by women - Sexual The detention of women in wartime Violence, Detention, Displacement, and Missing by Charlotte Lindsey, (June 2001, No. 842). Relatives, as well as to demonstrate the resilience of Afghanistan: An ICRC perspective on bringing women in wartime through the poster on Support & assistance and protection to women during the Dignity. Taliban regime by Charlotte Lindsey Curtet (September 2002). ICRC, Geneva, 2001, A1 English, French,Spanish, Arabic / Free of charge / ref. S2000.01 - S2000.02 - S2000.03 - S2000.04 - S2000.05 SPECIAL REPORT

Women and War

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