What are the opportunities to promote gender equity and equality in conflict-affected and fragile states? Insights from a review of evidence

Abstract

This article draws on a study which reviewed current evidence and lessons on how gender equality can be effectively strengthened in the context of conflict-affected and fragile states. The study looked at women's political and economic empowerment and women and girls’ access to quality services. State-building in conflict-affected and fragile contexts has been widely regarded as an opportunity for securing greater gender equity and equality. While there has been some success in relation to women's participation in elections and formal politics and engagement in small-scale economic enterprise, inequitable gender power relations within the household and wider society have not been considered or understood, and thus opportunities have been lost.

Keywords:

• Conflict
• fragile states
• gender equity
• gender equality
• rights
• empowerment
• statebuilding
• peacebuilding

Notes

1. The study, Conflict-Affected and Fragile States: Opportunities to promote gender equality and equity? (2011), was written with Wendy Harcourt, with research assistance provided by Katia Taela (available from Helen O'Connell – [email protected]

2. .See UNRISD 2005, for example

3. Petchesky (2003), Enloe (2004), for example

4. Such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocols^*, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), continental frameworks, such as the African Union's Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality, and the four specific UN Security Council Resolutions, 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889

5. The Local Self Governance Act, 1999, made obligatory the compulsory inclusion of a certain proportion of women in the different tiers of local government in Nepal

6. See Pedwell 2008, for example

7. LUPP was implemented by Development Workshop, Care and Save the Children with One World Action providing support from London in the form of dissemination, and international policy advocacy

8. See Sorvald (2009), for example

9. CEDAW is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979)