Women, Peace and Security E-News April 2017

What will you do?
By WILPF Women, Peace and Security Programme Director Abigail Ruane

WILPF’s partners, Families for Freedom, demand abolishing exceptional courts, especially field, war and counter-terrorism courts and guarantee fair trials under a supervision from the United Nations. February 2017. (Photo: WILPF).

Recently a courageous Syrian woman spoke to a crowd at the United Nations. She reminded the audience of the recommendations for action on Syria which have been consistently shared and consistently disregarded over the past five years. “What can you do? What will you do?”, she asked. “Do more.”

In the face of horrific violence in Syria and attacks in Somalia, Egypt, Pakistan and Sweden, there are different paths that we can take in responding to crises. On one hand, the outpouring of love, flowers and community support around the #OpenStockholm showed how one path is to strengthen prevention in a way that recognises risks but affirms open and inclusive societies. On the other hand, the three-month state of emergency declared by Egypt showed how another path is to try to reduce risks and strengthen “security” by cracking down on freedoms.

In a trade-off between “security” and “freedom”, “security” usually wins. But is this a good deal? For women and others relegated dependency, it seems more like a scam.

Military security frameworks provide a bargain for citizens whereby they trade some liberty and autonomy for protection. However, one in three women worldwide continue to be beaten, raped or abused in their lifetime. Civilian immunity has failed. And inequalities today may be at their highest of the last century.

Feminist analysis has pointed out that the military security bargain between states and people is essentially a protection racket. Although the claim is to provide security, what it actually shores up is masculine power. Through a logic of masculine protectors saving feminine beautiful souls, military security frameworks increase civilian risks by perpetuating dependency; in so doing, they legitimise spiralling government control, authoritarian power and war.

So, what is the alternative?

Everyday formidable feminist leaders show us that another world is possible. From women’s peace huts in Liberia to women’s disarmament advocates in Colombia, from feminist foreign policy in Sweden to feminist networks at the UN, women and feminist men are leading the way in showing how peace is possible by overcoming barriers and building champions for just and inclusive local communities. This month, WILPF will host a convening in Geneva to build on this historic feminist leadership and explore how to overcome longstanding obstacles and build strategic partnerships for women’s meaningful participation at the UN.

We cannot keep chasing failed silver bullet solutions. In our own spheres and spaces, all of us – international civil society, governments, UN, and others – must stretch beyond what is comfortable or normal to change the way we work. As Cynthia Enloe has said, each of us must ask: “Where are the women? What difference does it make?” The time is now to prioritise amplifying local women’s voices for justice and peace.

What can you do? What will you do?