International Labour Office Geneva Experiences of girl-combatants in Liberia Report coordinated by Irma Specht Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction Preface Liberia is on the difficult path of recovery after 14 years of conflict. The conflict in Liberia has created havoc, misery and trauma. But people are filled with hope, busy reconstructing a peaceful society. Successful demobilization of combatants from various fighting factions, including those of Government, is key to create, but even more, to sustain peace. Thousands of youth take up arms during violent conflict, in many cases a key motive is the lack of job opportunities. Lessons from the past teach us that the process of disarmament and demobilization can only be successful if strong reintegration support follows immediately after the first 2 steps are completed. Although women generally comprise between 10 and 30 percent of armed forces and groups, surprisingly little research has been done to on the lives of girl combatants in armed conflict. How does it affect their personalities? How do gender relations affect their choices? How do they cope after the conflict is ended? Are they able to use their experience to increase gender equality? Or do they go back to their earlier status of inequality? Do they have different needs then men? And if so, how well do DDR processes and programmes address these? The ILO’s Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction Programme recognizes gender equality as a central element in equitable, effective reconstruction and development, and for “universal and lasting peace”, a major precept of ILO’s Constitution. It has a special work item on crisis and gender, aiming at creating a “new environment” with less structural imbalances between men and women, primarily in the world of work, but also in other spheres. The present study on the experiences of female ex-combatants in Liberia was coordinated by Irma Specht, a former ILO Official and experienced consultant on matters related to DDR, through her consultancy firm Transparency International. The study aims to gain insights in the motives of Liberian girls for taking up arms and their reintegration needs. It also aims to highlight the key issues for improving gender sensitive prevention and reintegration policies. The study was facilitated and financed as a joint initiative by UNDP, UNICEF and the ILO. Alfredo Lazarte Director a.i. Crisis Response and Reconstruction Programme ILO 1 Acknowledgements This study has been outsourced to the consultancy firm Transition International (TI) which specializes on war-to-peace transitions, particularly socio-economic reintegration of ex- combatants and war affected children and youth. This report is the result of a collaborative effort by a group of dedicated people. The primary research was conducted by Annemiek Buskens, who lived for three months in the field with the girl-soldiers as an anthropologist. Irma Specht wrote the report assisted by Yvonne Kemper and Larry Attree. Liberian researchers Constance, Estella Nelson and Winnie Saywah provided translation and research assistance on the ground. Thanks are due to UNICEF personnel in Liberia, especially to Keith Wright and the staff of the Child Protection Unit, in particular Fatuma Ibrahim who provided both practical assistance and supported the project with invaluable contacts, advice and guidance. Thanks are also due to all the social workers and caregivers (of CCF, IRC, CAP, THINK and WACDO) who shared their views and experiences and provided additional contacts with girl combatants. The utmost appreciation is reserved for the young girls interviewed. Without their openness and cooperation this report would not have been possible. Their strength of character, courage, commitment and tenacity deserve recognition. This report is thus a tribute to the young girls who shared their stories and reflections. It is also a memorial for their friends and the many others who did not live to tell their stories. Special gratitude is reserved for Ellen, her bodyguards, close friends and her girls who not only shared their life stories, but also looked after the research team in an extremely open and warm manner. 2 Table of Contents PREFACE................................................................................................................................ 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... 2 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS............................................................................... 6 GLOSSARY............................................................................................................................. 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. 10 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 15 MAP OF LIBERIA............................................................................................................... 18 1. LIBERIAN GIRLS IN COMBAT............................................................................... 19 1.1. Who are girl combatants?.......................................................................................... 19 1.2. The hardship of combat ............................................................................................. 20 1.3. Women's Artillery Commandos (WAC) .................................................................... 23 2. ENTRY INTO FIGHTING FORCES......................................................................... 27 2.1. Forced recruitment .................................................................................................... 28 2.2. Voluntary recruitment: Reasons to fight................................................................... 29 2.2.1. Seeking Protection ................................................................................................. 32 2.2.2. Wishing for revenge............................................................................................... 33 2.2.3. Becoming equal to men.......................................................................................... 34 2.2.4. Economic motivations............................................................................................ 34 2.2.5. Education ............................................................................................................... 36 2.2.6. Family and friends................................................................................................. 37 2.2.7. Politics and ideology .............................................................................................. 39 2.2.8. Culture and tradition ............................................................................................. 41 2.2.9. Societal expectations and gender roles ................................................................. 43 3 2.2.10. Specific features of girl-adolescents...................................................................... 43 3. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE .................................................................................. 45 3.1. Gender-based violence during Liberia’s wars .......................................................... 45 3.2. Forms of gender-based violence................................................................................ 46 3.3. Defining rape.............................................................................................................. 46 3.4. Perpetrators of gender-based violence ...................................................................... 49 3.5. Victims of gender-based violence .............................................................................. 50 3.6. “Protection” strategies of girls .................................................................................. 53 3.7. Gender-based violence, revenge and "feminism" .................................................... 55 4. GENDER ROLES AND RELATIONS....................................................................... 58 4.1. Pre-war gender roles and relations ........................................................................... 58 4.2. Roles and relations with men during conflict........................................................... 59 4.3. "Bush marriages" in fighting forces ........................................................................ 62 4.4. Solidarity/Relations between women......................................................................... 63 5. BECOMING CIVILIANS............................................................................................ 64 5.1. “Bush marriages” after war ...................................................................................... 65 5.2. Commander-girl relationships after war................................................................... 67 5.3. Education ................................................................................................................... 70 5.4. Lack of income........................................................................................................... 72 5.5. Problems related to status.......................................................................................... 73 5.6. Political representation/decision-making processes................................................. 75 5.7. Drug addiction...........................................................................................................