Asides

The Roar on the Other Side of Silence

Joyce Wu presents The Roar on the Other Side of Silence: A pre-fieldwork presentation for a multi-country research on sexual violence in conflict/post-conflict situation. Centre for International Governance & Justice (CIGJ), Regulatory Institutes Network, the Australian National University. At Coombs Extension Lecture Theatre, Bldg 8, Room 1.04. Tuesday 11 August 2009, 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Abstract

It is only in recent years that sexual violence during conflict and post-conflict period, fuelled by the gendered dimension of armed conflict and the use of rape as a form of military strategy have been receiving global attention. However, there have been few multi-country studies done which identifies and compares the challenges, common themes, and good practices on prevention and intervention strategies in sexual and gender-based violence. In response, this PhD research will be a multi-country study in Afghanistan, East Timor and Pakistan and the pre-fieldwork seminar will examine how the emerging patterns of conflict and peace reconstruction have affected the ways in which the international communities respond to this issue, the construction of gender identities during conflict situations, as well as the strategic value of engaging men in gender-based violence prevention activities within post-conflict settings.

Analysis will be given to how the “fast aid” approach to post-conflict reconstruction, where development projects are reduced to technocratic transfer without giving account to local specificities, the militarisation of humanitarian aid, and the challenge of working with men and boys on anti-violence prevention in ways which ensure the safety of women and project participants within a conflict/post-conflict setting. In addition, research methodology for fieldwork – from logistics to interview techniques – will be raised for discussion. This research project is supported by the Australian Government (Endeavour Research Fellowship), Oxfam and Red Cross.

About Joyce

Gender equality and the elimination of violence against women are issues which Joyce cares deeply about. Prior to postgraduate studies, Joyce has worked in agencies including AusAID, UNIFEM (East and Southeast Asia Regional Office and China Country Office), Office for Women (Australian Government). Her PhD research is a multi-country study to identify good practices on engaging with men and boys to prevent sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations, and examine how the emerging trends of militarisation, privatisation of humanitarian aid have affected aid agencies’ effort to address sexual and gender-based violence and the promotion of gender equality and women’s human rights.

© 2009 People and Development.