Peacebuilding and Gender Inclusivity

2019 ◽  
pp. 385-402
Author(s):  
Adrineh Gregorian
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Safe Spaces ◽  
Peace Processes ◽  
Negotiation Tactics ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Women's Role

The work of women’s groups and organizations in conflict zones is underestimated and underresourced, yet these groups continue to be a voice of the marginalized. By examining the case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, this chapter seeks to demonstrate how women’s role in peacebuilding is pivotal and should not be trivialized. Women have proven to be more nonviolent, they have differentiated needs in conflict, and they are more successful at utilizing out-of-the-box methods. When official top-down approaches fail women, civil society organizations step in to fill the gaps. Whereas formal negotiation tactics often seem to be fruitless, out-of-the-box tools are created to develop connections and safe spaces to share, listen, and build empathy. These steps should not be overlooked; instead, they underscore that women’s inclusion in peace processes is imperative.

Special section: Is feminism doomed? Feminist praxis in the times of ‘gender ideology’ in Slovakia

2020 ◽  
pp. 135050682097915
Author(s):  
Zuzana Maďarová ◽  
Veronika Valkovičová
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Special Section ◽  
Gender Ideology ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Far Right ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Times ◽  
Feminist Organizing

Thirty years after the Velvet Revolution, Slovak feminist activists look back to the 1990s and early 2000s as the time of exceptional capacity building and knowledge production which was barely sustained in later years. The last decade of feminist organizing has been marked by waning financial resources for civil society organizations, and appropriation of feminist and gender equality agenda by the state, which led to the hollowing out of its content. What is more, strong and pervasive conservative pressure with the aid of ‘gender ideology’ rhetoric has been successful in delegitimizing gender equality policies and is consistently threatening sexual and reproductive rights in the country. Facing such prospects, this article examines newfound alliances and diverse forms of broadly understood feminist praxis, which go beyond institutionalized civil society, but have developed to counter neoconservative and far-right political pressure in Slovakia.

Interview with Mira Kusumarini

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (911) ◽  
pp. 437-444
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Executive Director ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Violent Extremism ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Image Position

Even during armed conflict and other situations of violence, all children are entitled to their rights and protections as children without distinction based on their age, gender, religion, or whether they are associated with an armed group. Despite this, millions of children in conflict zones face discrimination, ostracization and stigmatization. This is particularly true for children affiliated with groups designated as “terrorist”, who face a range of challenges in reintegrating into society.Civil society can play an important role at the international, regional and domestic levels in helping children formerly associated with armed groups, or otherwise affected by armed conflict, to rejoin communities. Mira Kusumarini is a professional in the peace and security field in Indonesia who works to address the problems of women and children who have been associated with armed groups, and to help them reintegrate them into society. She is the Executive Director of the Coalition of Civil Society Against Violent Extremism (C-SAVE), a collaborative network of civil society organizations.In this interview, she discusses the challenges involved in the reintegration of children who have been associated with extremist groups in Indonesia and the stigma they face, as well as the importance of empathy in helping communities to heal.

scholarly journals The IMF and Lebanon: The long road ahead – An assessment of how Lebanon’s economy may be stabilized while battling a triple crisis and recovering from a deadly blast

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Abdo ◽  
Dana Abed ◽  
Bachir Ayoub ◽  
Nizar Aouad
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
The International Monetary Fund ◽  
The Imf

Lebanon is extremely unequal and has been rocked by massive protests in recent months. The country is facing a financial crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about a potential bailout programme. Other IMF programmes in the region have focused on austerity and have driven increases in poverty and inequality. A business-as-usual approach by the IMF in Lebanon could have serious and far-reaching adverse impacts. Any potential policies pushed by the IMF in Lebanon must first be shown not to impact negatively on economic and gender inequalities, and must be drawn up transparently in consultation with local communities, civil society organizations and social movements.

scholarly journals Representing Women’s Interests in Japan’s Civil Society

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Sae Okura
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Business Groups ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Women’S Groups ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women ◽  
Political Groups

Japan has witnessed marginalization and underrepresentation of women in its civil society. This study examines its extent. It also explores who in Japan’s civil society represent women’s interests by using survey data from civil society organizations. This study reveals that civil society organizations are generally led by male leaders, and around half of their staff are male. It also indicates that the number of organizations representing women’s interests is limited, with only 2.2% representing women’s interests. Interestingly, the central actors representing women’s interests include economic and business groups, political groups, labor groups, and civic groups including women’s groups.

Electoral Systems and the Process of Substantive Representation

2021 ◽  
pp. 163-186
Author(s):  
Amanda Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Electoral Systems ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Candidate Selection ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Substantive Representation ◽  
Public Office ◽  
Women Legislators ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Women’S Groups

Chapter 7 examines how women’s entry into politics, their campaigning, and their legislating interact. Rather than considering each stage in isolation, Clayton demonstrates that the candidate selection processes covered in Parts I and II of the book shape what is possible once women are elected to public office. Drawing on extensive interviews with women legislators and civil society leaders in Namibia and Uganda, Clayton investigates how electoral systems and related candidate selection processes facilitate or impede the formation of meaningful, institutionalized alliances among women MPs. While Uganda has an active women’s parliamentary caucus that supports women MPs and pushes for legislation on issues of particular concern for women, cross-party cooperation among Namibian women is rare and the women’s caucus moribund. Consequently, women’s civil society organizations in Uganda find important allies in parliament, while women’s groups in Namibia do not.

scholarly journals Attitudes of professionals in Serbia on gender equality and gender-based violence: The research results

Temida ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-201
Author(s):  
Sanja Copic ◽  
Bejan Saciri
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Independent State ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

In 2019 the Victimology Society of Serbia conducted the survey aimed at assessing the attitudes of professionals who work in state institutions, independent state agencies and civil society organizations in Serbia about gender equality and genderbased violence, and collecting data on their experiences and challenges in dealing with gender-based violence victims, especially Roma women and women in rural areas. The survey was a part of the broader project aimed to contribute to policy and practice changes to ensure the recognition of harmful gender stereotypes and gender discrimination and to ensure suppression and timely response in cases of gender- based violence. It was a part of the program ?Ending Violence against Women in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey: Implementing Norms, Changing Minds?, implemented by the UN Women and funded by the European Commission. The survey was conducted on a sample of 199 respondents from the police, courts, prosecutors? offices, social welfare centres, independent institutions and civil society organizations, in 21 local communities in Serbia. The survey findings suggested that in general practitioners involved in the survey do not have negative attitudes towards gender equality and gender-based violence. However, when looking at some individual statements on the scales of attitudes on gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as answers to additional questions regarding the role of women and men at home, one can still conclude that traditional (gender) stereotypes are present in respondents of both sexes. The survey results also revealed a lack of knowledge about gender-based violence, which can result in the victim not being recognized, blaming the victim, failing to provide necessary assistance, support and protection, leading to re-victimization and secondary victimization. On average, male respondents have more conservative attitudes towards gender equality and gender-based violence than women. Older respondents, and consequently respondents with longer working experience, have more negative attitudes towards gender equality and gender-based violence than younger respondents. Respondents working in the judiciary, police and prosecution have more negative attitudes towards gender equality and gender-based violence than respondents from independent state bodies, centres for social work and civil society organizations. Attitudes on gender equality proved to be a strong predictor of attitudes about different forms of gender-based violence. Therefore, it is necessary to work further on raising awareness and strengthening capacities of practitioners in state institutions and civil society organizations on issues related to gender equality and gender-based violence, as well as on raising public awareness, including (potential) victims of gender inequality and gender-based violence, so that citizens can recognize their own or victimization of others and seek help and protect their rights.

Fighting for Democracy: Popular Organizations and Postapartheid Government in South Africa

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke K. Zuern
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
African National Congress ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Democratic Regime ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
National Congress ◽  
The Stability

Abstract:Elite, top-down models of democratic transition commonly miss key popular challenges and opportunities for institutionalizing stable, representative regimes. Civil society theorists often mistakenly assume that civil society organizations will support the creation and strengthening of a democratic regime. This article argues that in order to understand the process of regime change, we must look at both macro- and micro-level institutions and practices, as well as at the practical and ideological struggles over democracy that will define the regime. In South Africa, this struggle is seen most clearly in the interactions between popular organizations, such as the civics, and the African National Congress (ANC). How popular organizations make demands and how these demands are met will determine not only the form of the new regime, but also the stability of the most basic rights associated with democracy.

scholarly journals Civil society organizations and their role in promoting good governance

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Sairan Taha Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Peace Processes ◽  
Comprehensive Development

The good governance means having an integrated system of accounting and political and administrative accountability for officials in their public jobs, at the same time the ability of accountability for institutions of civil society and the private sector, so the good governance leads to sustainable human development and their application requires the rule of law, transparency and accountability, participation and decentralization. The Civil society organizations play a significant role in achieving comprehensive development and achieve democratic transition by working to instill  values and promote appropriate democratic practices in the community and create an environment for the establishment of good governance and development. The development of good governance requires the participation of women in all levels of decision-making, and the equal opportunities should be available for them to participation in all peace processes and support the protection of women's rights in armed conflicts, as well as to enhance their participation in political life and to ensure their rights as citizens and participants in the decision-making process at the local level.

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