Post-conflict Programs: Why do barriers continue to exclude women from Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration?

Abstract

This paper seeks to identify why women, despite the numerous calls for action from United Nations agencies, international policies making direct reference to women and girls in conflict, and the global push for gender equality, continue to face barriers when seeking access to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs? Through an analysis of the different components of DDR program design, in particular, with peace agreements, the paper presents the added value that women can have at all levels (e.g. including women’s organizations, female ex-combatants, and mediators) in the development of the terms and conditions of a peace agreement. This paper will substantiate that women’s lived experiences, and their comprehension of deep-rooted societal dynamics, offer an inclusive point of view, contributing to greater availability of DDR programs to the most vulnerable beneficiaries. The paper will define DDR strategies as a way to understand the concepts and challenges of conflict resolution. This is followed by an inquiry into the reasons women join armed groups and the participation of women post-conflict, focusing on the roles they play in the development of peace agreements. Women and youth specific policies will be identified and analyzed against areas of co-operation where the international community could better address the challenges of post-conflict programs. The paper concludes by setting out strategic recommendations devised to enhance program design and inclusion. Ultimately, it cautions that the status quo, a lack of women’s representation at all levels of decision-making, and program design and implementation, maintains inhibitory language which negatively impacts women’s access to post-conflict programs essential to fair, lasting, and gender responsive peace.