Case Study: Female-Centric Communication in Post-Conflict Liberia

Abstract

Globally, women suffer from discrimination and, disproportionately, from violence, more than any other group. Despite being by far the largest victims of conflict, they’re underrepresented in decision-making processes both political and economic, in peace and in strife. Though war affects women and children most, traditional peacekeeping efforts have been male-centric. But no longer. Female peacekeepers are part of the new UN mission and in Liberia they’ve achieved dramatic results due to their unique approach to communicating. These UN policewomen act as disciplinarians, mentors and role models within their host communities, curbing sexual violence and inspiring women and girls to advocate for themselves and raise their own profiles in the peace process.

Introduction

In modern warfare, it is not soldiers who suffer the most, it’s civilians—mainly women and children. Liberia’s 14 year civil war, one of West Africa’s most brutal conflicts, was infamous for massive human rights violations committed by all sides. Massive population displacement, the use of child soldiers, rape and sex slavery were some of the violations of international humanitarian law committed (UN Women, 2013). This devastating legacy made it an enormous challenge to rebuild war-torn communities and rebuild a peaceful society.

Recognizing this, the UN passed Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) specifically to address the “disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women .. (and) stress the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace-building and peacekeeping.” One way to accomplish this mission was to put women on the front line—on an equal footing with men.

Case presentation

The U.N.’s first all-female police force hailed from India. 105 strong, they were nothing like the intimidating, aloof UN troops most civilians came into contact with. The policewomen got actively involved in the Liberian community. They ''adopted'' a school and orphanage (Carvajal, 2010), providing the children with medication and lessons on computers and Bollywood dancing. Promoting women’s security, they initiated self-defense training for women and girls in schools and community centers (Anderson, 2012). Local police credit them with encouraging increased reporting of sexual abuse as well as its decline.

To communities unused to seeing women in uniform or official capacities, this has been nothing short of groundbreaking. In fact, after the Indian contingent’s first deployment in 2007, the Liberian National Police (LNP) saw applications from women triple; now they make up one in five of police officers (Carvajal, 2010).

"The Indian people have come and taught us that we women too are necessary to do the work they are doing," says the principal of their adopted school. "We believed that not only men do these [kinds of] work but women too are capable of doing it .. It makes the boys to feel that women are also part of society. It also makes boys think women can do what men do." (Ford & Morris, 2010).

The success of multiple all-female police deployments in post-war Liberia has inspired two more all–women police units from Bangladesh. They serve in Haiti and DR Congo.

Discussion

How did communication play a role? Seema Dhundia, the commander of India’s “blue helmettes” policewomen (and now a Deputy Inspector General), says that, even in a nonverbal role, the women were a palpable presence: Women can create more confidence and cooperation with the local population than their male counterparts. ... As most of the victims are women and children in any given scenario, the trust and the confidence of the local population can grow manifold on female peacekeepers. This increase in trust leads to the increasing of reporting of violence against women and girls. In fact, my troops became a role model for the local girls.

Verbally, the troops went where men peacekeepers might not have. They were able to provide survivors of gender-based violence with women among whom they felt more comfortable. They were more adept at diffusing tense situations without resorting to violence. They interacted with all community members, and in so doing increased positive attitudes toward UN peacekeepers in general.

Conclusion

Women have an enormous role in establishing the rule of law in post-conflict countries, and they can do great good by participating in the peace—and peacekeeping—process. In this way they can show that women can be role models, not victims, that their perspectives need to be heard, and that they have value to add in rebuilding society.

References

Anderson, L. (2012). Addressing conflict-related sexual violence: An analytical inventory of peacekeeping practice. New York City: UN Women.

Carvajal, D. (2010). Women put own stamp on mission in Liberia. New York Times, p. A12(L).

Dhundia, S. (2013, September 6). Lessons on women peacekeepers: Interview with Deputy Inspector General Seema Dhundia. Retrieved from

http://www.unwomensouthasia.org/2013/lessons-on-women-blue-berets-taking-chargewith-deputy-inspector-general-seema-dhundia/#sthash.xDGhmV2l.dpuf

Ford, T. & Morris, S. (2010). Peacekeepers Inspire Liberian Girls. AlJazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2010/10/2010102413848711567.html

UN Security Council. (2000). Security Council resolution 1325 [on women and peace and security]. Retrieved from http://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f4672e.html

UN Women. (2013). Historic Summit by UN Women and Centre for United Nations Peace

Keeping highlights women’s role in peace building [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.unwomensouthasia.org/2013/historic-summit-by-un-women-and-centre-for-united-nations-peace-keeping-highlights-women%E2%80%99s-role-in-peace-building-2/#sthash.5IJSTh8H.dpuf

© Shaii Stone 2013