Gender, Peace and Peacekeeping: Lessons from Southern Africa

This paper reflects on the intersection between gender, peace and peacekeeping - drawn on evidence from two Southern African peacekeeping experiences

This paper reflects on the intersection between gender, peace and peacekeeping. The author draws on evidence from two Southern African peacekeeping experiences (UNOMSA in South Africa and MONUC in the DRC) to contend that having a critical mass of women in peacekeeping missions can make the mission more effective, but also changes gender stereotypes and rigid patriarchal gender roles. The author views conflict as, amongst other things, a motor of transformation. Conflict, though certainly fraught with gender-based violence, presents an opportunity for women to seek to change existing gendered power relations.

About the author

Anu Pillay is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. Ms Pillay also serves as director on the boards of the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre and the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre. She was co-editor, with S. Meintjies and M. Turshen, of The Aftermath: Women in Post- Conflict Transformation, published by Zed books in 2001.