GENDERED IMPACT OF WAR AND DIPLOMATIC POLICIES

 

GENDERED IMPACT OF WAR AND DIPLOMATIC POLICIES

- Pawani Malik

 

 UNPACKING GENDER DYNAMICS OF WARS AND PEACEBUILDING

This blog will dive you into the detrimental effects of conflict on gender dynamics, particularly concerning women, as they not only endure the aftermath of war but are also specifically targeted as a tactical method of warfare. Rape and sexual violence have been identified as tools of war intended to destabilize families and dismantle the social structure of communities and societies. Additionally, women face challenges such as displacement, disrupted livelihoods, limited access to public services, increased burdens at home and in the workforce, and domestic abuse. Gender influences how individuals experience armed conflict in intricate ways, as military activities unfold on gendered landscapes. It also interacts with various identity factors such as age, class, disability, race, religion, and sexual orientation, shaping individual experiences.

 WARS ARE DOUBLE EDGED SWORDS

Nevertheless, women should not merely be viewed as victims in conflict and fragile contexts as they occupy various roles . During wartime, women frequently take on the role of heads of households, acquire new skills, and participate in peacebuilding and the revitalization of local economies and communities. However, these shifts in gender dynamics are typically temporary, often leading societies to revert to traditional gender roles post-conflict. Depicting women solely as passive victims undermines their agency and has resulted in the perpetuation of gender stereotypes that reinforce inequalities in fragile and post-conflict environments. This characterization has also led to the exclusion of women from peace negotiations and recovery efforts, neglecting their potential as agents of change.

 GENDERED REPERCUSSIONS OF VIOLENCE

Men and women encounter conflict in distinct manners. The types of gendered harms individuals may suffer as a consequence of hostilities can stem from biological differences as well as differences tied to socially defined roles and responsibilities. Since men make up the majority of combatants, they experience a higher degree of direct violence, which includes injuries and fatalities from combat, arbitrary detentions, and forced enlistment into militias or state military forces. Conversely, women disproportionately endure the repercussions of conflict in various forms; they face systematic rape and sexual violence, increased levels of displacement, and higher mortality rates in refugee camps, alongside social and economic vulnerabilities due to diminished access to livelihoods (especially agricultural systems) and essential services. Armed conflict has a more detrimental effect on women in terms of male compared to female life expectancy. Although women generally have a longer lifespan than men during peacetime, conflicts tend to narrow this life expectancy gap.(Plümper & Neumayer, 2006) Sexual violence The scope and magnitude of sexual violence, especially rape against women and girls, before, during, and after conflict are vast. They are used as a weapon of war to destabilize families, groups, and communities; to carry out ethnic cleansing and genocide; to instill fear in populations to discourage resistance and/or encourage flight; as a form of torture and punishment; and to validate aggression. Domestic violence is one type of violence that can result from the instability of families and communities. Armed conflicts are often associated with a rise in sexual exploitation, trafficking, and sexual slavery. Although women are the main victims of sexual abuse, boys and men can also become victims. Availability of services Access to services for women and girls is impeded by security concerns. Girls are more likely to stay at home to avoid the higher risk of exploitation, sexual abuse, and kidnapping when schools are demolished, for instance, and youngsters must travel great distances. Forced relocation may occasionally lead to increased mobility, however overall their freedom of movement is limited.

As fighters Young girls and women may also engage in violent behavior or behave as combatants. However, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs ignore their various concerns and challenges. Despite their basic importance to armed groups, girls in fighting forces are marginalized and rendered invisible during and after conflict, according to Denov (2008) . They are both active agents and resisters, yet they also endure victimization, perpetration, and insecurity. The direct and indirect harm that hostilities cause to civilians is often made worse by gender inequality: women are more likely to be discriminated against due to their disability, have less money to deal with injuries and property damage, may encounter additional obstacles to receiving medical care when hurt (such as needing male guardianship to travel or being examined by female medical professionals), and are likely to be underrepresented in positions that make decisions about the distribution of humanitarian aid. The experience of all people, including men and boys, in the conduct of hostilities is shaped by gendered presumptions and expectations. Because of their gender, men and boys may be assumed to be combatants or security threats in some circumstances. This can have negative effects, such targeting males based on their age and gender and leaving them out of estimates of incidental injury. As a result, gender influences conflict-related experiences differently for men, women, boys, and girls, but it undoubtedly impacts everyone. In recent years, there has been a rising understanding of women's various roles during and after warfare, including combatants, civilians, victims, and leaders. Despite their differentresponsibilities, women are often labeled as victims or placed in the vulnerable group by the international community, limiting their participation in peace discussions and leading to exclusion from peace processes. According to Puechguirbal's (2012) study, security, like conflict, is gendered because both men and women may confront different types of risks, but a gender-blind strategy refuses to address this issue. Peace discussions are frequently used to restore the pre-war order, which is synonymous with peace and security. However, this concept of peace and security does not take into account women's expectations and demands. War may be a tremendous transformational process for women who take on nontraditional roles and responsibilities. It provides them with an opportunity to dismantle patriarchy and build a peace in which their rights are safeguarded, discriminatory laws are repealed, and gender power dynamics are modified. However, women have frequently failed to consolidate and maintain their advantages during the transition from war to peace. Instead, they face criticism in the post-conflict context as men struggle to reclaim the masculinity and patriarchy deepens in society due to pre-war customs, traditions, and power relations

 

PEACEBUILDING

Numerous international agreements have acknowledged the need to protect women in conflict and fragile situations, as well as the crucial roles they can and should assume in conflict resolution and nation-building to ensure lasting peace. Notably, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace, and Security outlines the effects of war on women. It mandates the safeguarding of women and girls during and after conflicts, as well as their increased involvement in conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding efforts. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820 (2008) explicitly recognizes sexual violence as a security concern and a tactic of war, requiring conflicting parties to implement concrete prevention and protection measures and highlighting the significance of women’s roles in peace processes. These resolutions have been vital in integrating women’s rights and gender equality into the peace and security agenda.

Gender and violent conflict Connections between gender inequality and violent conflict There is a notable relationship between gender inequality and violent conflict. Studies have indicated that extreme and systematic gender inequality correlates with political violence, while higher degrees of gender equality (assessed through fertility rates) related to reduced risks of intra-state conflict initiation.(Caprioli, 2003) A following investigation by Melander (2005) supported this conclusion, showing that gender equality (evaluated by the percentage of women in parliament and the ratio of female-to-male higher education achievements) is linked to diminished levels of armed conflict within a nation. Moreover, various components of gender (in)equality and gender dynamics within a country may act as a precursor to the likelihood of violent conflict. Therefore, these studies provide a compelling case for advancing gender equality in order to foster stable societies.

 In state-building and peacebuilding processes, women's rights, participation, and relationshipto the state and society are frequently disregarded or not sufficiently addressed. The absence of political will and, in certain situations, policymakers' ignorance of how to incorporate gender issues into state-building and peacebuilding plans are the causes of this. Additionally, it stems from the belief that gender is not a top priority to address both before and after conflict. Therefore, patriarchal norms and behaviors continue to influence diplomatic policies and international relations.

 

References

Caprioli, M. (2003). Gender Equality and State Aggression: The Impact of Domestic Gender

Equality on State First Use of Force. International Interactions, 29(3), 195–214.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03050620304595

Melander, E. (2005). Gender Equality and Intrastate Armed Conflict. International Studies

Quarterly, 49(4), 695–714. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2005.00384.x

Plümper, T., & Neumayer, E. (2006). The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed

Conflict on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy. International Organization, 60(03).

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020818306060231

Denov, M. (2008). Girl Soldiers and Human Rights: Lessons from Angola, Mozambique,

Sierra Leone and Northern Uganda. The International Journal of Human Rights, 12(5),

813–836. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642980802396903

Puechguirbal, N. (2012). The Cost of Ignoring Gender in Conflict and Post-Conflict

Situations: A Feminist Perspective. Amsterdam Law Forum, 4(1), 4.

https://doi.org/10.37974/alf.207