I have a job that has the word “General” in the title, but then its qualified by the word “Secretary” which transforms it from the military term to a broader meaning of someone who “does everything”. Despite the reality of its meaning in my context, at first hearing you think “General” and in some ways its actually quite comfortable as it is indicative of a certain credibility, authority and a hierarchy which provides a place and status for the person who temporarily owns it, as a representative of that organization. The reason is simple; we borrow language and concepts from the military in ways we are not even conscious of because we are so used to it as being part of the State. One of WILPF’s goals to awaken consciousness and more to activate action and to move from thought to implementable policies.
I joined WILPF because the ideology is principled; not many NGOs challenge belief systems and provides alternative that could be realized. Being an anti war non-violent women’s organisation, focusing on the root cause of war, the costs and consequences of arms in all their manifestations, plus the need to support the multilateral system to make sure we prevent war and uphold human rights enables WILPF address the multifaceted challenges of our times. Importantly, we bring a progressive feminism into the mix.
And this is why this year’s theme (“From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!) of the 16 Days Campaign matters. We need to examine, redefine, and act on what security means in the real lives of societies where it occurs away from militarism.
In 2009 the NGO, Medica Mondiale, held a week long conference on seeking Justice with some 26 post conflict countries represented; the story was pretty much the same in all of them. This tells us a lot about the issues facing women around world. There is a urgent need to address the current agendas for rule of law, women peace and security, DDR programmes and the pursuit of democracy so that they can more effective address the rights and need of women. The common analysis was that it is really hard to get societies to demilitarise; it is political inconvenient to give up the power that it seems to give to individuals, and special interest (both within the State and non-State) the access it gives to a range of “benefits”. In some case, we must also acknowledge that women can also be part of the military machinery but this does not give them equality of power, and the impact on women in society as a whole from militarism is negative; the gender dimensions inevitable with the masculinities associated with the warrior is ascendant and the perception of women as weak vulnerable and in need of protection, or; if the enemy, then weak, vulnerable and available as a means of asserting your control; hence sexual violence.
In Bosnia the militarization that occurred with the arrival of more peacekeepers at the end of the conflict around 1995 compounded that scenario. Mostly male, enjoying power and privileges, the perception was that that Bosnia remained a highly militarized State, which it was. Then came the trafficking of women and young girls to cater for the perceived market for sex, a perception which was realized. This was directly linked to the militarization of society at every in level in Bosia. The realities of trafficking in BiH at that time have been captured in the film the Whistleblower, by Larysa Kondracki. It is violent, it is dehumanizing and the impact is still felt today, for the women, for the society and for the economy. You cannot run a huge black economy alongside a formal one and in Bosnia the latter lost out. The consequences for those made vulnerable as a result of the war have been dire with women more adversely affected. Women are and continue to be doubly punished as a result of the militarization of their country.
So during this 16 Days we should protest the consequences of militarization but we should also demand its prevention. The Multilateral system can be used to do this more effectively. This is our great challenge! We must make it more accountable, more transparent and ensure that it addresses issues of gender, discriminations, in all areas of its work. We should use the Human Rights mechanisms, and developing norm and principles including using the doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect as a means of prevention not of military intervention. There is much we can do and we should never give up trying to make a difference. There is a line in the film “We will have our humanity” which I rather like, if we can end militarization then we will get closer to that humanity.
WILPF has been, and continues to be active during the 16 Days around the world; join where you can, join in what’s going on where you are, there is still plenty of time! And keep it going after Dec 10th as there will still be lots left to do I am sure.
Madeleine Rees
For comments on WILPF’s participation in the campaign contact Maria Butler maria@peacewomen.org
To see WILPF’s work on our websites: http://www.wilpf.int.ch; http://www.peacewomen.org; http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org