"The attainment of peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability is undeniably linked with the overcoming of domination and subjugation in societal relations. Security requires not only the absence of war, but also the abolition of social injustice and gender inequality."

Judith Ann Tickner 

Feminist analysis of peace and security policy are founded on a human rights-oriented understanding of security. The rights and needs of the individual are of central concern. Because gender is a structuring force in society, it must be reflected in questions of security policy.Gender-sensitive analyses of security policy consider and focus on the causes of conflict, on the effect of conflicts on women, on the diverse social roles of men and women.

Feminist positions are usually pacifist in nature: they often express a fundamental opposition to the use of violence and encourage the use of conflict prevention initiatives in society rather than intervention. Many peace initiatives, often led by women, such as the european Peace Brigades in Guatemala or the collective peace intiative of palestinian and israeli women, demonstrate the possibilities preventive peace measures. At the same time, feminists face the dilemma of what to do when it is too late for preventive, civil society-oriented measures, such as during genocide or when there exist widespread, fundamental human rights abuses. Only under strict guidelines and with a UN-mandate is the use of military force acceptable. Feminists call for structural changes, such as the implementation of gender-trainings, gender-specific intervention policy, and the strengthening of the United Nations.

A comparison with the current security policy shows that the feminist approach with its broad understanding of security, its focus on prevention, and the integration of a gender perspective would help to overcome current political challenges.

A discussion paper by the Feminist Institute of the Heinrich Boell Foundation explains why it is necessary to integrate feminist positions in peace and security policy. At the same time it advocates for the conceptual joining of security policy and gender equality, a central vision of the feminist peace and security policy. The paper ends with concrete political demands and invites readers to discuss perspectives and possibilities for peace and security for all.

Ordering Information The discussion paper can be ordered as a paperback (5 Euros + S&H) per email: info@boell.de You can also download the paper as a >>  PDF File The Feminist Institute looks forward to your contributions, critique, and comments!

Aktualisiert: 05.04.2007, kra