The Role of Female Combatants in Catalyzing Change for Post-Conflict Processes

The Role of Female Combatants in Post-Conflict Processes

The intersectional identities of women from marginalized political groups not only shape the course of conflict, but have implications for what combatant groups advocate for in the aftermath of conflict. A study that analyzed data from over 1,200 peace agreements, spanning three decades (from 1990 and 2019), found that the proportion of female combatants in a rebel organization influences the presence of certain gender-inclusive agreement provisions, specifically those affecting female combatants and the populations from which they tend to be recruited. Female participation in rebel combat forces increases the probability that peace agreements include provisions for intersectional gender equality and gender-inclusive demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration (DDR). This research demonstrates how important it is to create the space for the work done by women in armed movements to be elevated in the transition process.

The Role of Women Insurgents in Organizational Survival and Catalyzing Change

When considering combatants in armed conflict, who comes to mind? Oftentimes, acts of violence are associated with men, however women also take on active roles in violent organizations. Women’s exclusion from reconciliation efforts can drive them to join such organizations, increasing the effectiveness of those organizations and furthering instability. For example, this qualitative case-study on the Kurdish armed movement in Turkey between 1982-2015 found that women, despite the challenges of navigating gender-mixed rebel groups, significantly enhance organizational structure, contribute to rebel group survivability, and advance gender-equal agendas. This underscores the urgent need for policymakers to address gender inequalities, incorporate them into post-conflict initiatives, and adopt defensive measures to mitigate violence stemming from rebel groups' gendered strategies.

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