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Case Studies
Africa
| Women's Contributions to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (February 2005) | | In 1994, in order to address apartheid-era human rights abuses, the country created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Two important goals of the TRC were to grant amnesty to perpetrators of human rights abuses who disclosed the atrocities they committed; and to break the country’s cycle of violence. Women played vital roles in the TRC. They were nurturing and compassionate commissioners and staff, and they were emotional witnesses who addressed the suffering of others in their testimonies. | | | Negotiating the Transition to Democracy and Reforming the Security Sector: The Vital Contributions of South African Women (August 2004) | | As South Africa abandoned its policy of apartheid, the newly democratic state redefined security to encompass issues outside of the military, such as underdevelopment, poverty, and human rights abuse. Women from all walks of life – anti-apartheid activists, African National Congress members and Umkhonto we Sizwe fighters, and women at the grassroots level – contributed to advancing a holistic, comprehensive, and democratized “human security” framework. Other notable achievements include providing gender-based training to all defense ministry personnel, appointing women to senior positions in the Ministry of Defence, and holding an annual gathering called “Women at the Peace Table.” | | | From Combat to Community: Women and Girls of Sierra Leone (January 2004) | | Women and girls fought on both sides of Sierra Leone’s civil war. Although large numbers of women said they entered the war after being “abducted,” many also fought or received weapons training. Sierra Leone’s national disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program frequently excluded women and girls for a variety of reasons. However, the exclusion of women and girls is to the country’s detriment as many female ex-combatants returned to violence in order to survive. Women have also often led the reintegration process, accepting ex-combatants back into society and spearheading the rehabilitation process for these former fighters. | | | Strengthening Governance: The Role of Women in Rwanda's Transition (October 2003) | | Nine years after the end of the 1994 genocide, Rwanda still faces challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and HIV/AIDS. However, the country has made strides toward establishing a democratic society. Having made several important contributions to their country’s political system, women are at the forefront of post-genocide Rwandan public life. They are present in government at record levels; they compose 49 percent of parliament’s lower house. Women’s accomplishments include initiating reconciliation efforts, participating in drafting a new constitution, exercising influence in decentralization policies, and forming a cross-party caucus in parliament to continue to work on security issues. |
Americas
| In the Midst of War: Women's Contributions to Peace in Colombia (2004) | | Women have been victims and actors in Colombia’s cycles of violence and peace. In talks organized by President Andrés Pastrana in 1999, women represented both the government and FARC, the major guerrilla group. In 2000, 600 women participated in a women’s public forum that pressed FARC and government leaders to consider women’s concerns. In 2002, women’s groups continued to work towards peace after talks fell apart, reaching a consensus on the issues affecting Colombian women. In spite of the dangers women face as a result of being recognized as political leaders, they remain at the forefront of local efforts for peace. | | | Adding Value: Women's Contributions to Reintegration and Reconstruction in El Salvador (January 2004) | | Nearly 4,500 women, recognized as members of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), participated in El Salvador’s demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration (DDR) program following the 1992 ceasefire. Women contributed in a variety of ways to the program’s success. For example, women leaders from the FMLN ensured that women received the land they were granted by the nation’s land transfer program, the Programa de Transferencia de Tierra (PTT). Some women ex-combatants have returned to more traditional roles, but others have taken on community reconstruction efforts. The El Salvadoran DDR process demonstrates that women are a vital component of success for any society’s reintegration efforts. |
Asia
| Naga Women Making a Difference: Peace Building in Northeastern India (January 2005) | | The end of fighting between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and the Indian government exposed divisions within the NSCN and among Naga factions. Although it seemed that the ceasefire could not be sustained, Naga women began taking advantage of their position as respected mothers, stepping in to stop inter-factional violence. Although civil society and women are not always included in the peace process, Naga women have continued using their traditional social status to help rescue hostages, support displaced persons, and promote social integration. The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has even established a Peace Team that has held advocacy meetings with Indian government officials and military officers. | | | Good Governance from the Ground Up: Women's Roles in Post-Conflict Cambodia (March 2004) | | Women are spearheading Cambodia’s transformation to democracy. During the years when the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia watched over the nation’s progress, women jumped at the chance to aid in reconstruction. They aimed to make the process of drafting a new constitution more inclusive, and they rallied to help ensure peaceful elections following violent campaign periods. Today, women compose the majority of Cambodians with experience in conflict management and peace building. |
Eurasia
| From Rhetoric to Reality: Afghan Women on the Agenda for Peace (February 2005) | | The Emergency Loya Jirga in Afghanistan in June 2002 began an advance in women’s rights. The new constitution adopted in December 2003 affirmed that women are equal to men; it also allocates 25 percent of seats in the lower house of parliament to women. The creation of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) marked a symbolic turning point for Afghan women, but the organization has yet to fulfill its promise. As they mark their successes, progressive Afghan women also face the facts that conservatives remain a powerful force and that their progress has been inconsistent. |
Europe
| Women's Participation in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY): Transitional Justice for Bosnia and Herzegovina (July 2004) | | Bosnian civil society groups have taken the lead in addressing needs not met by their state during its postwar reconstruction period. Women’s groups have spurred the creation of a war crimes court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and have filled gaps in the court’s reconciliation processes. They pressed the court to consider gender-based crimes as violations of international law. Bosnian women’s groups connected women witnesses with the trials, serving as links between The Hague and fellow Bosnians. Women in Bosnia have furthered efforts to incorporate gender issues into future investigations, and have set important precedents in international law. |
Middle East
| Women's Rights and Democracy: Peaceful Transformation in Iran (May 2006) | | Women in Iran are the driving force behind the country’s reform, as they establish a basis for transformation to democracy in spite of repression and discrimination. Women in government promote women’s rights by allocating funds for women’s empowerment, by working with civil society groups, and by organizing workshops and educational programs to spread awareness of these issues. Iranian women also turn to NGOs who help advance their common cause. Although many newspapers and magazines promoting women’s rights have been shut down, journalists and activists are defying this government censorship, turning to the Internet to disseminate reformist ideas. |
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