Women, Human Security and Peacebuilding

Susan McKay
Professor of Women's Studies and Adjunct Professor of International Studies
University of Wyoming, USA; McKay@uwyo.edu

Human security is concerned with physical security and protection of basic liberties. More broadly, human security emphasizes access to economic opportunities, freedom of speech and association, legal and political rights, freedom of religious practice, fair and equitable treatment within legal systems, and the ability to exercise choices freely and safely. For women, each element of human security is more difficult to attain because of their status inequality throughout the world-for example, in the control of resources. The existence of gender hierarchies and power structures are therefore key to women's security (and insecurity) because status inequality impacts their ability to articulate and act upon security needs.

Gender and feminist analysis are needed in each human security arena to differentially understand human security and how men and women distinctly, as well as similarly, experience its erosion. For example, reproductive health care is a key component of women's security -- including reproductive choice, safe maternity, access to health care, and treatment of STDs including HIV/AIDS. Education is another critical dimension of women's human security because it positions them to be empowered. Women's security is also related to their involvement in peace and security negotiations; yet they are usually marginalized in the development of peace agreements, and during political decision making and social reconstruction. Critical questions must therefore be asked. A fundamental feminist question is: "whose security is being emphasized and how?" Another is: "what forces in a nation or community create, reinforce, and maintain gendered conditions of human security and what are these?"

Women define human security as inextricably linked to realizing women's human rights, gender justice, and peace in its broadest sense. Within the context of armed conflict, women's human security is more threatened-because of their low status and the gendered effects of contemporary conflicts. The result is that they suffer disproportionately1.

Addressing and reducing the incidence of sexual violence against girls and women during and in the aftermath of armed conflict is central to improving women's security and is a core component of women's peacebuilding. Despite their marginalization, women's peacebuilding at grassroots and NGO levels is influential in improving human security. To illustrate how women are addressing human security concerns in the aftermath of armed conflict, two cases--Sierra Leone and Afghanistan-- will be developed to demonstrate how women's peacebuilding is bringing women's security concerns to the forefront within the context of social reconstruction.

Notes:

1. United Nations. (2002). Women, peace and security: Study submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). New York: Author.