227 Environmental, Rural and Social Development June 2003 Findings reports on ongoing operational, economic, and sector work carried out by the World Bank and its member governments in the Africa Region. It is published periodically by the Knowledge and Learning Center on behalf of the Region. The views expressed in Findings are those of the author/s and should not be attributed to the World Bank Group. http://www.worldbank.org/afr/findings Demobilization and Reintegration Programs: Addressing Gender Issues Why a gender issue? How does a gender dimension fit with these objectives? Gender has W omen have always no direct impact on military participated to some expenditures, but addressing extent in combat, but gender issues could help post- several recent wars have seen conflict recovery. Gender is also them fighting on the front lines. linked to vulnerability. Evidence And while the roles of female ex- suggests that female ex- combatants vary widely, the combatants are generally more women seem to share one vulnerable than male ex- unfortunate characteristic: combatants as, in some contexts, limited access to benefits when families. This study therefore peace and demobilization come. focuses on selected gender issues. This is also true for girls abducted Pilot projects were carried out in for sexual services and the families several countries including of ex-combatants in the receiving Eritrea and Guinea-Bissau to test community. and finalize the framework These groups are often neglected proposed here addressing gender during demobilization and issues in demobilization and reintegration; or at best, women, reintegration programs. This work men, boys, and girls may receive does not take a geographical equal benefits but are treated as a perspective (region specificity); homogenous group, which instead, it favors a culturally prevents their specific needs from consistent approach. being addressed. Some think that the first How to introduce a gender objective of a DRP (Demobilization dimension in DRPs and Reintegration Program) is to have a positive impact on the The study that was undertaken peace dividend. Another goal often intends to ensure that female mentioned is the reduction of specific needs are identified and Findings military expenditures for budgetary addressed in future DRPs. The reasons. However, others argue study also identifies DRP strategies that the DRP objectives should be that minimize gender to assist vulnerable ex- discrimination. combatants. Targeting directly to families might solve this Demobilization A first step in a DRP is to proceed problem. This option however might When demobilization starts, to the targeting, and in our case be more expensive and difficult to combatants are usually regrouped identify groups of female ex- implement because family for a period of encampment. Having combatants, abducted girls and ex- members must be identified and them assembled facilitates the combatants' families. registered. Another suggestion is gathering of information, the A first issue is that actors may to conduct an intra-household distribution of benefits, and the try to limit the number of women analysis to evaluate how benefits initiation of reinsertion and given ex-combatant status, arguing might be shared and also carry out reintegration programs. All male that their role during the struggle an assessment of the male ex- and female soldiers being does not entitle them to that rank. combatant' acceptance in the case demobilized should be present Female ex-combatants often have of benefits given directly to during encampment and facilities to rely on men to confirm their families. A strong sensitization should be able to meet specific grade or status. One solution is to campaign targeting ex-combatants female needs--for example, choose selection criteria that do and communities could trigger separate shelter and sanitation not discriminate against them. community pressure on the facilities. The transport home of Clear selection criteria must be recipient of benefits to use them ex-combatants from discharge defined, allowing no room for fairly and wisely. Government centers should be coordinated with personal interpretation. An implementing DRPs should also be the transport of families. advisory committee could be prepared to deal with issues such Pre-discharge information given created to monitor gender as polygamy, war widows and to female ex-combatants should discrimination. orphans. correspond to their needs and cover So far, the majority of DRPs have It would be useful to define each the following topics: civic rights, treated families as secondary group' socioeconomic profile in access to credit, access to beneficiaries. This means that it order to identify needs and education and employment, how to is up to the soldier to share benefits opportunities. Gender- start an income-generating with the household, even though disaggregated information should project, HIV/AIDS prevention, the soldier might misuse these be collected. preparation for difficult social benefits. Giving some benefits acceptance in the community of settlement, and domestic violence. Findings Findings can be accessed via the World Bank Group's website at http://www.worldbank.org/ Click on Publications, then Periodicals. Or, Findings would also be of interest to: click on Countries and Regions, then Africa Name Institution Letters, comments, and requests for publications not Address available at the World Bank Bookstore should be addressed to: Editor, Findings Operational Quality and Knowledge Services Africa Region, The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Room J-8-095 Washington, D.C. 20433 e-mail: pmohan@worldbank.org Abducted women should have the Reintegration and therefore ineligible for option of being registered Reintegration programs usually marriage. DRPs could include separately from their partner. In conclude operations of sensitization programs for families situation where families are demobilization. The primary and communities to reduce the primary beneficiary, they should objective is to facilitate the risk that they add further trauma also receive ID cards. economic and social reintegration to the returning girl. Traditional Girl soldiers should be sent to of the ex-combatant. Lacking purification rites have good results recovery camps. In order to avoid skills, credit, and childcare in giving girls a new start. further trauma, they should not be facilities, women have few Female ex-combatants and ex- mixed with adults. Family tracing opportunities to generate an combatants' wives associations could be initiated simultaneously. income. DRPs could combine can help reintegration and, educational programs with access therefore, should be encouraged. Reinsertion to credit projects, and adapt them Incentives for community projects The primary tool for the reinsertion to the needs of female ex- where residents and ex- of the ex-combatant is the set-up combatants. In addition, because combatants work together should of a transitional safety net. This of low levels of education - or male also be supported since they can safety net is meant to help him/ hiring prejudices - female ex- play a major role in social her after demobilization, covering combatants usually have poor reintegration and reconciliation. basic needs for both the ex- access to employment. The most vulnerable groups -- combatant and his/her family. If Sensitization campaigns, as well female disabled ex-combatants and the calculation of the TSN as incentives, could be directed at heads of households -- need special (Transitional Safety Net) depends the private sector to encourage attention. DRP planners should pay on several criteria, it must be employers to hire women. In special attention to ensure that certain that these criteria are not conjunction, women should be disabled female ex-combatants are resulting in gender given access to labor-intensive not discriminated against when discrimination. If women are programs. If ex-combatants are to receiving pensions or participating among the beneficiaries, receive land, DRPs should ensure in assistance programs for disabled vulnerability criteria could be that female and male ex- people. Outreach and sensitization introduced, as the evidence shows combatants are treated equally. programs, as well as special that they are more vulnerable than Training and transfer of skills participation quotas are male ex-combatants. should be adapted to market needs recommended. Receiving a In many societies, housing is the and female opportunities. disability pension depends on a principal geographical base for Childcare facilities and outreach physician's examination and women's work -- therefore, a programs would boost their recommendation. Female disabled housing allowance is critical for participation. ex-combatants have reported being female ex-combatants. Because their schooling was discriminated against in many Temporary medical care for ex- interrupted, the educational level cases. A recommended measure combatants may be an important of many abducted girls is low. This could be to ensure that female ex- element of reinsertion. Specific group needs a combination of combatants can go to female medical needs of female ex- remedial education, skills physicians for examination. combatants should be covered: training, and apprenticeship. Another concern is the unusually reproductive health facilities, Communities of settlement may high percentage of heads of services for pregnancies, reject female ex-combatants. Ex- households among female ex- treatment of injuries resulting combatants often leave the partner combatants partly because of social from sexual abuses, programs they met during the war and marry reintegration issues. Vulnerable conceived to deal with sexual a local woman as a step toward cases could be prioritized to access abuse traumas, treatment of community acceptance. Sadly, reintegration programs. sexually transmitted diseases, and abducted girls can also be rejected Counseling and communicating drug addiction. because they are seen as impure are vital to help female ex- combatants achieve economic and social reintegration. Women' s Post-conflict countries often see primary mandate -- the participation in war redefines their a deterioration of law and order. demobilization and reintegration of traditional identities, generally Poverty coupled with the erosion of ex-combatants. They cannot be expressing itself by their the authority of traditional used to address every post-conflict emancipation and rejection of institutions, lead to crime and issue. However, ex-combatants do patriarchal systems.Also, delinquency and the increase of have an impact on women in host compared to men and boys, women domestic and street violence communities and vice versa. and girls usually suffer from sexual affecting women and children. Therefore, there should be the abuse traumas. And this kind of Strategies including sensitization responsibility of DRPs to offer trauma is linked to later campaigns, education programs affected groups access to some prostitution and drug and alcohol and group therapy are services -- or at least to ensure abuse. Female staff alone should recommended. that other programs do. conduct the counseling programs, In some countries, sexually and bureaucratic procedures transmitted diseases rates are two should be strictly limited in order to five times higher in the military to encourage victims to ask for than in the civilian population. help. Soldiers should be educated about The author, Nathalie de the risks of HIV infection during Watteville, was a consultant for the Impact of demobilization on women pre-discharge orientation and World Bank in 2000 and 2001 in the host communities information. Campaigns targeting (Post-conflict Unit, Africa Region). In several contexts, the social women in host communities Prior to this, she worked for three acceptance of women in typical should be orchestrated. years as a delegate for the male professions seems to be Other issues to be addressed International Committee of the Red temporary and only because of war include the reconciliation process Cross (ICRC) in countries at war needs. During post-conflict periods, -- quite relevant for the social (Burundi, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and high male unemployment -- reintegration of ex-combatants and Guinea-Bissau) negotiating with resulting from increased families. Women peace parties at war for the respect of the competition because of the organizations can play a Geneva Convention and managing repatriation of refugees and significant role as mediators humanitarian aid for victims of war. demobilization, economic crisis, between clans or villages of enemy She is presently working as ICRC and restructuring -- caused factions. Deputy Head of Delegation for women to lose their jobs especially Finally, during the planning and North America in Washington DC. in the formal sector. DRP planners the implementation of DRPs, one This article is sourced from her should carefully consider the question keeps returning: To what study, Addressing Gender Issues potential negative consequences of extent should they include in Demobilization and DRPs on women' employment, and individuals among beneficiaries Reintegration Programs, Africa should favor an integrated who are not directly related to Region Working Paper series, approach. demobilization? DRPs have a #33, August 2002. For more information, e-mail Ndewatteville@hotmail.com