Gendering conflict resolution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This research report documents the results of a study that aims at investigating the potentialcontribution of a gender perspective towards conflict resolution. In this regard, theDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is used as a case in point. The study takes theform of an exploratory and descriptive study and extensive use is made of both primary andsecondary sources of data.By arguing that a gender perspective on conflict will elucidate the way in which women areaffected differently by conflict it logically follows that women should be permitted to assumetheir rightful positions in attempts at transforming conflict. The application of a genderperspective furthermore urges a revision of conflict resolution towards conflict managementand transformation as the appropriate ways of bringing an end to war. This implies that theemphasis is shifted from a search for political solutions towards conflict prevention and earlywarning as the most effective ways of pre-empting violent conflict and the breakdown ofpeace-processes aimed at resolving violent conflicts. In the search for an appropriate role forwomen in conflict management, the study revisits a number of frameworks for the full andequal participation of women in conflict management at the international, regional and subregionallevels of analysis. These frameworks are then applied to the situation in the DRCand some practical courses of action are proposed. While the study concludes that there is aclearly defined need for exposing the gender bias in the analysis and resolution of violentconflict, it notes that the patriarchal nature of the DRC and the international system will inmany instances hamper progress towards the achievement of a non-patriarchal and nongenderedpeaceful social world order.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University