My volunteer project in Rwanda will consist in dealing with women, girls and families affected by gender-based violence during and after the genocide of 1994. I also plan to look at the way women’s organizations (small and large) are used in post-conflict situations or to deal with crucial problems such as HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence (GBV) etc. I believe that these organizations’ and individuals’ work could be used to lead to more peaceful, gender-sensitive, equal and democratized societies.
The aim of my research in Ghana will be very similar (but more about that another time)...
During conflict, women often acquire new skills. They can be, and should be, crucial in decision-making processes regarding peace and development. Often, women are excluded from formal political processes although they could bring a completely different dimension and more inclusive peace. The goal of peacekeeping is to bring structural changes (legal, psychological, education, health care, etc) in society that will allow for peace to prevail. Moreover, peace building and development should be largely community-owned and-directed. Community–driven approaches can encourage a more gender-balanced representation.
The aim of my research will be to see how local organizations and individuals:
± Provide psychological and medical assistance to survivors, provide social services and education
± Attempt to reduce the culture of violence
± Try to change institutions and laws in their country
± Raise awareness of health workers or try to influence ministries, police etc
± If and how they foster public discussions
± Attempt to get more women involved in formal politics
± Engage in long-term development and rehabilitation
± Attempt to create employment, provide economic assistance and establish microcredit and vocational programs, etc
Intended Consequences, an exhibition about Rwandan children of rape and their mothers. Pictures taken by photojournalist Jonathan Torgovnik.
For those of you interested, here is some information on the subject of GBV.
“Women’s bodies [are] a battleground in times of war.” - Rachel Maranja, UN adviser on Gender Issues
o Gender-based violence
Gender based violence can be manifest as domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, and psychological abuse. Both men and women are affected by the problem (although women are more vulnerable than men). It can take place in the family, the community or be perpetrated by the state. In conflict situations, such as the genocide in Rwanda, GBV is often committed by soldiers. Since 2008, rape is considered as a crime against humanity, a war crime and in the case of Rwanda a crime of genocide. It has been called “the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world” by USAID.
Many countries are affected by the problem of GBV during conflict. The Democratic republic of Congo is sadly well known for that, although not much is done about it. GBV was also largely used during the genocide in Bosnia in 1995.
o Rwanda specifically
The situation of Rwandan women today has been defined by the 100-day genocide of 1994. The statistics are hard to believe. About one million Tutsi and Hutu, the country’s main ethnic groups, were killed. Between 250,000 and 500,000 Rwandan women and girls (both Tutsi and Hutu, although the reasons for each group were different) were sexually mutilated, held in sexual slavery, raped and gang-raped as rape was encouraged and became the rule. Under international law, rape constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity, and in case of Rwanda, an act of genocide.
Organized propaganda fueled violence against women and girls. Tutsi women were portrayed as tools of the Tutsi community and as sexual weapons used to weaken Hutu men. Women became an enemy of the state and rape was used to dehumanize and intimidate Tutsi women as well as the entire Tutsi community. It became a military tactic that could used like a rifle. The perpetrators were mostly Hutu militia (Interahamwe) but also the military, the police, civilians and international soldiers. A culture of pre-existing (gender) inequalities created an environment for targeted violence during conflict. The magnitude of sexual violence in conflict will never be fully known since many victims do not come forward but it was certainly not a side effect of the conflict (as in most conflicts)
o Impact
- Stigmatization and social exclusion
- Poverty and ownership issues. Many women then resort to prostitution to survive.
- Health problems and inadequate health care. It increases the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS...
- Homelessness
- Caring for children from rape
- Psychological isolation
- GBV continuum: GBV can become an accepted practice as a result of conflict, leading to an increase in domestic violence once peace has been restored. This also due to men’s feeling of failure, their frustration over poverty and unemployment. Men then tend to assert their masculinity through violence.
The burden of the genocide fell heavily on women. It left almost half of the households headed by women. Right after the genocide, Rwanda had very much become a country of women, with 70% of the population being female. The burden of conflict and displacement falls disproportionately on women.
Victims therefore suffer economic and social difficulties:
- Women find it difficult to talk about their experience, particularly because the Rwandan cultural and social climate is very much conservative. Being a survivor of rape is not easy as victims carry a social stigma and face isolation.
- Before the genocide, men took care of all activities outside the household, making women largely dependent on men. In a post-genocide Rwanda, women’s subordinate status has grave implications. Their second-class status under Rwandan customary law makes it impossible to enjoy equality as they have to face discriminatory practices, particularly in terms of property inheritance law (as a general practice women cannot inherit property and access to owning is difficult). Women’s ability to find possibilities outside the home is difficult as they are primarily seen as child-bearers. They have little education and lack marketable skills and so many survivors have been reduced to a very low standard of living as they can no longer provide shelter, food or pay for school fees for their children.
- Women suffer persistent health problems as a result of the rape and other forms of gender-based violence (such as sexual mutilation). The rate of HIV infection is difficult to estimate. Before the genocide, 25% of the population was infected. But the situation was aggravated by the conflict. Because abortion is illegal in Rwanda, many women had self-induced abortions because they could not bear the thought of carrying a child of rape (“pregnancies of war”).
o Response in Rwanda
A growing number of organizations in Rwanda have started to emerge to deal with the issues facing women. Many survivors are trying to break the silence surrounding their experience. Counseling groups, survivor support groups, AIDS awareness centers and medical centers have been created and women are also getting more involved in politics. The Ministry of Gender and the Promotion o Women is working to educate women on the concept of gender and women’s rights.
Related Links (I’ll post a list of books soon):
http://www.theirc.org/our-work/gender-based-violence-programs
http://www.who.int/gender/violence/en/
http://www.hhri.org/thematic/gender_based_violence.html
http://www.unfpa.org/rights/violence.htm
Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda. Human Rights Watch report. http://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports/1999/rwanda/
