Access and meaningful participation, diversity and transformation: Feminist development and feminist foreign policy draw attention to existing inequalities and they envision change in power structures, gender norms and opportunities. In many societies, however, violent conflicts exacerbate existing discrimination – and after hostilities end, legacies of violence continue to shape people’s lives in gender-specific ways. Addressing the legacies of a violent past is a central tenet of peacebuilding and development. Truth-seeking, fact-finding, reparations for victims and memorialisation are important contributions to post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation processes. Yet, transitional justice measures may run the risk of reproducing patriarchal structures, as a recent report by UN Women points out. From a feminist perspective, gender-transformative approaches are therefore key, based on the understanding that dealing with the past should address structural injustices and discrimination, including gender-specific injustice and exclusion. This dialogue event explores the question of how transitional justice approaches can contribute to a transformation of power structures and discriminatory gender norms in post-conflict contexts. How does a feminist perspective on gender-specific legacies of past violence change our understanding of development and peacebuilding approaches? Where are the “blind spots” of gender-transformative approaches? |
Welcome remarks by Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Keynote by Åsa Regnér, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women Speakers:
Moderated by Beatrix Austin, Head of Conflict Transformation Research, Berghof Foundation |