Does the Presence of Women Really Matter? Towards Combating Male Sexual Violence in Peacekeeping Operations

Abstract

Women are being encouraged to join peacekeeping operations as sexual violence problem-solving forces while simultaneously undertaking a complex role as ‘protectors’ of local women from local men and male peacekeepers. Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 in 2000, the UN has urged states to deploy more women. Among the implicit assumptions underlying these calls are that an increase in the representation of women in peacekeeping operations (PKOs) will lead to a decrease in the cases of HIV/AIDS, a decline in the number of brothels around peacekeeping bases, and a reduction in the number of babies fathered and abandoned by peacekeepers after their mission comes to an end. Evidence suggests that the presence of women peacekeepers can and does foster a change in male behaviour when women are deployed in PKOs. This article argues, however, that countering abuse should not be a substitute for the more encompassing goal of improving gender balance and equality in PKOs. While there is a need to combat sexual violence in PKOs, the responsibility for prevention should be on troop-contributing countries, which need to exercise accountability and prosecute sexual violence committed by their peacekeepers. Diverting responsibility to women does not address the problem of sexual violence in PKOs, or help eradicate its causes.

Notes

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See, e.g., Cynthia Enloe, Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics, London: University of California Press, 1990; Sheila Jeffreys, ‘Double Jeopardy: Women, the US Military and the War in Iraq’, Women Studies International Forum, Vol.30, No.1, 2007, pp.16–25; Kathleen Jennings, ‘Protecting Whom? Approaches to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations’, Fafo Report, Oslo, 2008.

Judith Hicks Stiehm, ‘Women, Peacekeeping and Peacemaking: Gender Balance and Mainstreaming’, in Olsson and Tryggestad (eds), (see n.15 above), p.42.

Williams and Bellamy (see n.41 above), p.1.

Valenius (see n.17 above).

Hudson (see n.34 above).

DeGroot (see n.15 above), p.33.

Sandra Whitworth, Men, Militarism and UN Peacekeeping: A Gender Analysis, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2004, p.18.

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UN General Assembly (see n.22 above), p.43.

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Jennings (see n.52 above), p.30.

Hudson (see n.34 above).

Inger Skjelbesk, ‘Is Femininity Inherently Peaceful? The Construction of Femininity in the War’, in Skjelbesk and Hermione Smith (eds), Gender, Peace and Conflict, London: Sage, 2001, p.71.

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Schoetzan (see n.49 above).

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Whitworth (see n.58 above); Martin (see n.37 above).

DeGroot (see n.15 above).

Sion (see n.50 above), p.561.

Väyrynen (see n.1 above), p.137.

Cited by Lloyd (see n.59 above).

Will Ross, ‘Liberia Gets All-Female Force’, BBC News, Liberia, 31 Jan. 2007 (at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6316387.stm).

Jeffreys (see n.52 above).

Ian Munro, ‘UN Chief Seeks Women Peacekeepers to Counter Sexual Violence’, The Age (Melbourne), 20 June 2008 (at: www.watoday.com.au/world/un-chief-seeks-women-peacekeepers-to-counter-sexual-violence-20080621-2uer.html).

As a response to growing criticism of the sexual activities of UN peacekeeping personnel in Cambodia, the mission's Special Representative, Yasushi Akashi, reportedly took the view that ‘boys will be boys’ and no disciplinary action was taken against peacekeepers. Martin (see n.37above), p.4.

Jennings (see n.52 above).