The 15th
Introduction
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the organizers of this Conference. As former Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, and Chairperson of the United Nations First Biennial Meeting of States on Small Arms and Light Weapons last year, today I would like to focus my presentation on “Gender, Disarmament and Reconciliation.” Gender is an important cross-cutting element in our efforts to enhance human security. Indeed, women can make a difference.
I would like, first of all, to briefly touch upon the role of gender in disarmament. Next, I will address the importance of embedding the concept of “reconciliation” and incorporating a gender perspective in the designing of post-conflict disarmament programmes. Lastly, I will examine some key elements in designing gender-inclusive, community-based and people-oriented small arms disarmament programmes.
The Role of Gender
To date, the international community has paid little attention to the gender dimension of disarmament and peace studies. Gender issues are often overlooked and misunderstood. Without an explicit understanding of gender differences and inequalities, post-conflict dynamics cannot be adequately addressed.
Gender is a cross-cutting element over time and culture, and forms the basis for attitudes and behaviors within the family, the community and the nation as a whole, influencing economics, politics, social interactions and individual needs. During conflicts, community-level violence and its consequences indicate that gender is central to the struggle against insecurity. Women and men often participate in armed conflict in different ways and have different perceptions of ‘security’.
Women from Victim to Active Participant
Women and
children bear a disproportionate burden from conflicts, often accounting for
the vast majority of victims. Of the estimated four million war-related deaths
during the 1990’s, 90% of those killed were civilians, and 80% of those were
women and children, mostly victims of the misuse of small arms and light
weapons. Women are often the target of violence. They also bear the brunt of
poverty and underdevelopment. This situation is further aggravated by the
diversion of resources for arms expenditure from education, health and other
initiatives that could improve women’s lives.
Nonetheless,
rarely are women included in post-conflict initiatives or given a say in decisions
on priorities in post conflict situations. They are, to a large extent,
underrepresented in many key forums where decisions on disarmament and human
security are made, and women’s views tend to be less apparent in mainstream
discussions.
Greater
involvement and empowerment of women could facilitate the development of more
effective disarmament strategies, and more women should be encouraged to
develop political expertise and skills in order to participate in negotiations
and post-conflict programmes. The active role women can play in peace processes
should not be underestimated. Women seek to resolve conflict, reject violence,
ensure food security, and are the caretakers of ethical and cultural values.
They have an important role to play in guarding human security in the home,
community, and at a national level.
Post-Conflict
Disarmament & Reconciliation
During the
post-Cold War period, the characteristics of violent conflicts have changed
from a traditional inter-state conflict to a deep-rooted intra-state conflict involving
all social strata, including individual community members at a grass-roots
level. Unless such deep-rooted
divisions in communities are adequately addressed, it is impossible to rule out
the recurrence of similar military conflicts.
This shift
in the nature of conflicts requires not only political arrangements for peace,
but also social reconciliation at a community level. Reconciliation at all
politico-social levels, including the grass-roots level within different
communities, is the key to ending violent conflicts and reconstructing war-torn
societies.
The Small Arms Context
The nature
of warfare is influenced by a massive proliferation of small arms and light
weapons that fuel and prolong human tragedy and hatred among people. Although
the likelihood of large-scale international armed conflict seems to be
receding, regional ethnic confrontations and civil war have a horrendous and
increased impact on people’s security. Therefore, amongst the multi-dimensional
sources of human insecurity, the most direct threat is the presence of illegal
and excessive armament, and its continued proliferation in post-conflict zones,
which sustains conflict, exacerbates violence, prolongs human tragedy and
hatred among people, and fuels crime and terrorism.
The
implementation of peace must take into account both the future needs of a
society and the elimination of its excess weapons, as well as the broader
international and regional context in which the society is situated. Unless
demand issues are properly addressed, and alternatives to a military lifestyle
are provided, disarmament itself can be a hindrance towards reconstruction and
reconciliation.
In societies
emerging from deep-rooted conflicts, it is important to design disarmament
programmes with a view to facilitating reconciliation. Since disarmament is an
indispensable element in the early stage of post-conflict reconstruction, the
careful designing of an appropriate small arms disarmament programme, with the
concept of “reconciliation” at its core, is of crucial importance.
Key
Elements for Disarmament Programmes
The
following are some important elements in designing gender-inclusive, community-based
and people-oriented small arms disarmament programmes:
· Participatory approach
A participatory approach, with the involvement of both genders, is essential. Following conflicts, there is often inequality in the representation of men and women in the peace, reconstruction and reconciliation process. Women’s participation and full gender mainstreaming in reconstruction mandates should be ensured. Recognising local women’s knowledge of societal needs and conditions aids and enhances assistance programmes. Women are operationally important, with an enormous potential to convert the goals of disarmament and arms control into concrete realities.
Women should also be given a more equitable
role in power and decision-making. Their participation in the decision-making process is essential, and women as mothers can play a significant role in reconciliation.
· Inclusive programmes, including women and child ex-combatants
Not all combatants are men and boys. Women and girls have taken up arms in many conflicts, and yet have not always been included in disarmament and reconstruction initiatives. Women and children not directly involved in fighting, or lacking a weapon to surrender, should also be included in the post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation programmes. Provision for the participation by women and girls, including full access to benefits of reconciliation programmes, is essential for the comprehensive and successful implementation of disarmament and reconstruction programmes. Thus, programmes should be designed to incorporate the needs and priorities of women and girls as ex-combatants, as well as families of ex-combatants. The number of programmes for child soldiers, fully incorporating the specific situation of girl soldiers, should also be increased.
· A ‘bottom-up’ approach
A bottom-up approach generates momentum for reconciliation. Momentum towards peace building and relinquishing weapons must be initiated by community members themselves so that they target “weapons” as the common enemy of all members of the community, rather than a particular social group or tribe. Through this strategy, the community can generate a consensus to move on from a militarised lifestyle to a peaceful one.
Women can play an important role in this area, and further exploration of their potential to contribute to local disarmament. Women often take the weapons out of the hands of men and boys, while the latter may be more reticent to give up their arms. Women’s involvement in all levels of conflict prevention and reconstruction processes shows their determination to work towards and achieve a culture of peace.
·
Community-based,
comprehensive approach
The issue of gender cannot be approached by
looking at women as an isolated category. Disarmament and reconciliation must
be addressed in a comprehensive manner. Placing the community at the centre of
the disarmament process gives community members a sense of ownership in
the weapons collection process. Women must be seen as important members of this
social group.
A comprehensive approach must focus on the needs of the whole community including children, young adults, elders, teachers, parents, grandparents, village chiefs and the media. Communities should not be treated as homogenous, but rather as being made up of many different groups. When designing disarmament programmes, it is important to understand the perception held by each group, including women and men, of their own situation. Among such groups, one cannot over emphasise the salience of children and young adults, both boys and girls, as the future of a peaceful society. In order to prevent recurrence of violence in the community, the younger generation must receive the utmost attention in disarmament and reconstruction processes.
Conclusion
Only when disarmament and human security is viewed in a multi-dimensional context, with “reconciliation” as its core, can truly comprehensive and sustainable disarmament be achieved. People-centered, community-based programmes are the key to enhancing human security, and the invaluable role of women and their post-conflict involvement in these programmes should be acknowledged and promoted. NGOs, local governments and community groups are playing an instrumental part in implementing various initiatives, raising awareness, and lobbying for human security causes. It is time to recognize that women can, and given the opportunity will, make a difference.
Thank you.