Conflict and emergencies
Masculinity and Civil Wars in Africa – New Approaches to Overcoming Sexual Violence in War
Men rejecting violence
Authors:
Publisher:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, 2009
An analysis of the different roles that men and women can play as a conflict unfolds offers new perspectives to help understand wars and restore peace in post-war societies. This short document shows how sustainable peace building requires, among other things, contravening the behavioral logic of violent actors and preventing reestablishment of the old discordant social order. The importance of innovative interventions is illustrated by the frequent occurrence of gender-specific violence and HIV/AIDS. Also the great propensity of ex-combatants to violence and the reintegration problems of former female combatants work against attempts to develop post-war societies.
The authors argue that care must be taken that violent warlike activity and the related ideas of masculinity and femininity are not simply carried over into postwar daily life. The document finishes with a consideration of potential approaches and practical instruments. It is argued that reorientation can serve to strengthen and network men who, as “change agents,” reject violent conflict resolution and define their masculinity by way of criteria such as commitment to human dignity, human rights, justice, social fatherhood, and partnership. Additional recommendations include:
- men who reject violence need support and a network, as they are often harassed by other young men as 'effeminate' and marginalized
- men who form activist alliances with womens organisations must be offered culturally appropriate forums in which to discuss violent models of masculinity, socialisation to violence, and new life patterns.
