Women in Armed Opposition Groups Speak on War, Protection and Obligations Under International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law

Thursday, September 16, 2004
Author: 
Dyan Mazurana, Geneva Call and the Program for the Study of International Organization

We know that the role of women as actors in armed conflict has traditionally been neglected and undervalued. Has their potential in the promotion of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHR) within armed opposition groups also been overlooked? Additionally, we recognize that in a number of ways women and girls experience and respond to armed conflict differently than men and boys. Would these differences make women within armed opposition groups potentially more receptive to supporting and promoting IHL and IHR? In seeking to learn more about the experiences of women and girls within armed opposition groups and to answer questions about their potential roles in promoting IHL and IHR, a unique workshop was held in August 2004, in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by Geneva Call and the Program for the Study of International Organization(s) of the Graduate Institute of International Studies.

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Women in Armed Opposition Groups Speak on War, Protection and Obligation 2004