The largest wave of displacement in Uganda occurred in 1995-96, when the government forced civili... more The largest wave of displacement in Uganda occurred in 1995-96, when the government forced civilians in northern Uganda into so-called 'protected villages' using mortars and helicopter gunships in the process. The 'protected villages' were later turned into IDP camps 1 which received little assistance from the government. The humanitarian community in Uganda limited its food distribution to IDPs registered and residing within the camps.
While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are sub... more While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are subjected in (post-)conflict spaces, there remains a relative lack of knowledge about how those experiencing them perceive the interconnections between such forms of violence, as well as about how these perceived interconnections are enmeshed in gendered power relations. This paper analyses group interviews carried out with male and female refugees living in Kampala to scrutinise the complex interweaving between gender-based violence and heteropatriarchal gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict spaces. Participants repeatedly drew causal connections between sexual violence perpetrated by enemy armed men against women and men and subsequent intimate partner violence. Our discussion of the logics underpinning these perceived causal connections enables close analysis of the shifting and contingent ways in which various forms of gender-based violence are understood as imbricated in one another and implicated in shifting gender norms. This enables us to examine some of the complex ways in which gender-based violence reverberates through gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict contexts
International Feminist Journal of Politics, Apr 4, 2022
While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are sub... more While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are subjected in (post-)conflict spaces, there remains a relative lack of knowledge about how those experiencing them perceive the interconnections between such forms of violence, as well as about how these perceived interconnections are enmeshed in gendered power relations. This paper analyses group interviews carried out with male and female refugees living in Kampala to scrutinise the complex interweaving between gender-based violence and heteropatriarchal gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict spaces. Participants repeatedly drew causal connections between sexual violence perpetrated by enemy armed men against women and men and subsequent intimate partner violence. Our discussion of the logics underpinning these perceived causal connections enables close analysis of the shifting and contingent ways in which various forms of gender-based violence are understood as imbricated in one another and implicated in shifting gender norms. This enables us to examine some of the complex ways in which gender-based violence reverberates through gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict contexts
This paper reflects on the relationship between social media and inclusion in
humanitarian action... more This paper reflects on the relationship between social media and inclusion in humanitarian action in Uganda’s forced migration context. It explores refugees' own desire for inclusion both in the use of social media broadly, and for the purposes of informing governance of humanitarian spaces specifically. It documents experiences of being excluded, but also the perspectives of humanitarian workers grappling with largely unexplored benefits and pitfalls of these non-traditional communication channels.
This paper discusses the process and progress of the Men and Masculinities stream of work within ... more This paper discusses the process and progress of the Men and Masculinities stream of work within the Gender, Power and Sexuality (GPS) programme, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). In relation to the overarching programme’s emphasis on linking local voices to global arenas to influence policy discourses on gender justice and sexual rights, the paper reviews the contribution made by engagements with the Men and Masculinities field and reflects on challenges faced and lessons learned.
This paper brings together 5 background papers: 1. Key research findings: an introduction to the ... more This paper brings together 5 background papers: 1. Key research findings: an introduction to the conference - Chris Dolan p. 3 2. Key findings from research on the 'Roles of Traditional and Modern Leadership Structures' - Rosalba Oywa and Chris Dolan p. 11 3. HIV and conflict in Gulu District: findings from an ACORD study - Sunday Abwola and Chris Dolan p. 14 4. Highlights of 'Conflict and means of livelihood research' - Lucy Kidaga Larubi p. 18 5. Armed conflict and human rights: a critical evaluation of the treatment of civilians in Northern Uganda - Jude Ogik p. 23
This paper presents some of the major findings relating to the critical research questions identi... more This paper presents some of the major findings relating to the critical research questions identified in our methodology paper, namely about dynamics, linkages, labels, experiences and engagement within the war zone and the wider conflict situation. The evidence presented strongly suggests that despite many positive forms of civilian engagement which can be regarded as pro-peace, these are neutralised and negated by the broader dynamics of the war which involve multiple actors both within the war zone and in the wider conflict situation. NGO and Government interventions, although often claiming a peace building intention, have as often worsened the conflict. While this is partly due to different political positions on the situation, which are in themselves a source of conflict, it is also the case that where the political will for peace exists, it is often undermined by an inadequate analysis of the situation, in particular by ignorance of ordinary people's views, interpretations and actions. The paper deliberately focuses on data gleaned from inside the war zone, and therefore does not attempt to offer a comprehensive account of the war. Nevertheless, it does show how, despite serious deficiencies and distortions of publicly available information, it is possible for people living inside the war zone itself to have a complex, multi-layered and dynamic perspective on what is going on around them, including the ways in which the national and international impinge on and interact directly with the local.
The following offers an account of the war based on the memories and experiences of a wide range ... more The following offers an account of the war based on the memories and experiences of a wide range of people living inside the war zone. When combined into one account, these raw facts create a deeply shocking and disturbing account of the Northern Uganda war. It is not a comprehensive account, and some key issues, such as the decentralisation process of the late 1990s, receive no mention. Nevertheless, it lays bare a horrific picture of what has been happening over the last fourteen years, particularly to communities and individuals. From this primarily local level account it is possible to see the broad dynamics of the conflict, its periods of severe violence and relative lulls, its gradual increase in intensity, and the growing visibility of international dynamics and actors. The account challenges a number of different images which are often used to describe the situation: it is evident that this is not a case of intra-ethnic conflict, of 'Acholi killing Acholi', though there have been elements of that. Neither is it simply a case of a few 'loose molecules' 'bandits', 'thugs' or 'undisciplined individual soldiers' disturbing an otherwise well-ordered society. It is also clear that for many years this has not been strictly an 'internal war' the causes and effects of which are contained within Uganda's borders. As important as the 'history' which emerges from this exercise, are the questions which such a history, although constructed entirely from ostensibly 'subjective' memories, forces us to ask - not only about the events themselves, but about the weight and significance which must be accorded to these memories. While the personal events in and of themselves are often sobering, the way in which the thoughts and feelings about them will contribute to the future in the war zone also gives pause for thought: how will these memories inform the future actions of individuals and groups, the informal education of their children, the extent to which politicians can manipulate questions of identity? How will people link their personal experiences with their often acute observations, inferences and interpretations of the broader dynamics?
This paper analyses an influential report on supporting traditional reconciliation mechanisms whi... more This paper analyses an influential report on supporting traditional reconciliation mechanisms which in the late 1990s was seen as offering a possible solution to the long-running LRA-Government of Uganda conflict in northern Uganda. While not rejecting these, the working paper raises some issues relating to the report’s methodology, analysis, conceptual framework and proposed implementation plan. This was with a view to helping to realistically assess where the report’s recommendations fit in the broader context of the conflict and its possible resolution.
For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, m... more For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, making ‘integration’ a chimera. More recently, however, governments and international organizations have advocated for greater refugee integration and framed education as key to this process. For adult refugees, education in the place of asylum often focuses most heavily on language learning. This chapter explores the Refugee Law Project’s (RLP) English for Adults (EFA) program – the largest language education program for adult refugees residing in Uganda. This chapter describes how educators in the program enact a translanguaging pedagogy and explores what educators and students think about these non-traditional teaching practices. The chapter shows how educators take on the role of detective, co-learner, builder and transformer (Garcia O, The linguistic integration of adult migrants. Degruyter, 2017) to help students develop language skills and a sense of empowerment and belonging durin...
<p>This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence ... more <p>This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence and gender inequality in conflict situations. It argues that progress toward including men in policy and legal discourse has been stunted, despite repeated attempts to challenge the silencing of men's experiences. The chapter demonstrates how men can be simultaneously victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. It also highlights the importance of interrogating data collection methods in sexual violence studies. Reassessments of such statistics show that men are more frequently victims of sexual violence than had been previously assumed. To create alternative models of justice, this chapter calls for a conceptual shift that recognizes the gender-based harms men experience in conflict.</p>
Background Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known a... more Background Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known about the impact of these experiences among self-settled refugees in the country of asylum. We evaluated the association between traumatic experiences and PTSD and depression symptoms among female Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees living in Kampala, Uganda. Methods Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling in one refugee service center in Kampala, Uganda. Eligibility criteria included: Congolese nationality, age 18+ years, self-settled in Kampala for at least 6 months, refugee status or documentation of application for refugee status. Only data from female participants were included in this analysis. Depression symptoms were screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and symptom criteria for PTSD and traumatic experiences were evaluated with the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to separately assess associations bet...
Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has r... more Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as t...
Despite the wide repository of knowledge about conflict-related sexual violence that now exists, ... more Despite the wide repository of knowledge about conflict-related sexual violence that now exists, there remains a lack of understanding about how victims/survivors of such violence themselves make sense of and frame their experiences in conversation with global and local discourses and with the categorisations that underpin support programmes. Such sense-making is important not only because the ways in which violence is categorised shape a victim/survivor's ability to access particular forms of recognition and support, but also because it is central in how shattered selves and worlds are remade in the aftermath of violence. Drawing on individual and group interviews conducted with refugees living in Kampala, Uganda, this article charts how framings of ‘torture’ and ‘sexual violence’ become meaningful in participants’ accounts in the (re)formation of themselves as subjects after violent victimisation. We trace how participants navigate the heteronormative societal and legal norms ...
The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal... more The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal or operational controversies around humanitarian issues. In its issue on “Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict” (Vol. 96, No. 894, 2014), the Review published an Opinion Note by Chris Dolan entitled “Letting Go of the Gender Binary: Charting New Pathways for Humanitarian Interventions on Gender-Based Violence”, arguing for a shift in the conceptualization of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings from an emphasis on gender equality to an ethos of gender inclusivity. Jeanne…
The largest wave of displacement in Uganda occurred in 1995-96, when the government forced civili... more The largest wave of displacement in Uganda occurred in 1995-96, when the government forced civilians in northern Uganda into so-called 'protected villages' using mortars and helicopter gunships in the process. The 'protected villages' were later turned into IDP camps 1 which received little assistance from the government. The humanitarian community in Uganda limited its food distribution to IDPs registered and residing within the camps.
While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are sub... more While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are subjected in (post-)conflict spaces, there remains a relative lack of knowledge about how those experiencing them perceive the interconnections between such forms of violence, as well as about how these perceived interconnections are enmeshed in gendered power relations. This paper analyses group interviews carried out with male and female refugees living in Kampala to scrutinise the complex interweaving between gender-based violence and heteropatriarchal gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict spaces. Participants repeatedly drew causal connections between sexual violence perpetrated by enemy armed men against women and men and subsequent intimate partner violence. Our discussion of the logics underpinning these perceived causal connections enables close analysis of the shifting and contingent ways in which various forms of gender-based violence are understood as imbricated in one another and implicated in shifting gender norms. This enables us to examine some of the complex ways in which gender-based violence reverberates through gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict contexts
International Feminist Journal of Politics, Apr 4, 2022
While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are sub... more While much is now known about the multiple forms of gender-based violence to which people are subjected in (post-)conflict spaces, there remains a relative lack of knowledge about how those experiencing them perceive the interconnections between such forms of violence, as well as about how these perceived interconnections are enmeshed in gendered power relations. This paper analyses group interviews carried out with male and female refugees living in Kampala to scrutinise the complex interweaving between gender-based violence and heteropatriarchal gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict spaces. Participants repeatedly drew causal connections between sexual violence perpetrated by enemy armed men against women and men and subsequent intimate partner violence. Our discussion of the logics underpinning these perceived causal connections enables close analysis of the shifting and contingent ways in which various forms of gender-based violence are understood as imbricated in one another and implicated in shifting gender norms. This enables us to examine some of the complex ways in which gender-based violence reverberates through gender norms and power relations in (post-)conflict contexts
This paper reflects on the relationship between social media and inclusion in
humanitarian action... more This paper reflects on the relationship between social media and inclusion in humanitarian action in Uganda’s forced migration context. It explores refugees' own desire for inclusion both in the use of social media broadly, and for the purposes of informing governance of humanitarian spaces specifically. It documents experiences of being excluded, but also the perspectives of humanitarian workers grappling with largely unexplored benefits and pitfalls of these non-traditional communication channels.
This paper discusses the process and progress of the Men and Masculinities stream of work within ... more This paper discusses the process and progress of the Men and Masculinities stream of work within the Gender, Power and Sexuality (GPS) programme, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). In relation to the overarching programme’s emphasis on linking local voices to global arenas to influence policy discourses on gender justice and sexual rights, the paper reviews the contribution made by engagements with the Men and Masculinities field and reflects on challenges faced and lessons learned.
This paper brings together 5 background papers: 1. Key research findings: an introduction to the ... more This paper brings together 5 background papers: 1. Key research findings: an introduction to the conference - Chris Dolan p. 3 2. Key findings from research on the &#39;Roles of Traditional and Modern Leadership Structures&#39; - Rosalba Oywa and Chris Dolan p. 11 3. HIV and conflict in Gulu District: findings from an ACORD study - Sunday Abwola and Chris Dolan p. 14 4. Highlights of &#39;Conflict and means of livelihood research&#39; - Lucy Kidaga Larubi p. 18 5. Armed conflict and human rights: a critical evaluation of the treatment of civilians in Northern Uganda - Jude Ogik p. 23
This paper presents some of the major findings relating to the critical research questions identi... more This paper presents some of the major findings relating to the critical research questions identified in our methodology paper, namely about dynamics, linkages, labels, experiences and engagement within the war zone and the wider conflict situation. The evidence presented strongly suggests that despite many positive forms of civilian engagement which can be regarded as pro-peace, these are neutralised and negated by the broader dynamics of the war which involve multiple actors both within the war zone and in the wider conflict situation. NGO and Government interventions, although often claiming a peace building intention, have as often worsened the conflict. While this is partly due to different political positions on the situation, which are in themselves a source of conflict, it is also the case that where the political will for peace exists, it is often undermined by an inadequate analysis of the situation, in particular by ignorance of ordinary people&#39;s views, interpretations and actions. The paper deliberately focuses on data gleaned from inside the war zone, and therefore does not attempt to offer a comprehensive account of the war. Nevertheless, it does show how, despite serious deficiencies and distortions of publicly available information, it is possible for people living inside the war zone itself to have a complex, multi-layered and dynamic perspective on what is going on around them, including the ways in which the national and international impinge on and interact directly with the local.
The following offers an account of the war based on the memories and experiences of a wide range ... more The following offers an account of the war based on the memories and experiences of a wide range of people living inside the war zone. When combined into one account, these raw facts create a deeply shocking and disturbing account of the Northern Uganda war. It is not a comprehensive account, and some key issues, such as the decentralisation process of the late 1990s, receive no mention. Nevertheless, it lays bare a horrific picture of what has been happening over the last fourteen years, particularly to communities and individuals. From this primarily local level account it is possible to see the broad dynamics of the conflict, its periods of severe violence and relative lulls, its gradual increase in intensity, and the growing visibility of international dynamics and actors. The account challenges a number of different images which are often used to describe the situation: it is evident that this is not a case of intra-ethnic conflict, of &#39;Acholi killing Acholi&#39;, though there have been elements of that. Neither is it simply a case of a few &#39;loose molecules&#39; &#39;bandits&#39;, &#39;thugs&#39; or &#39;undisciplined individual soldiers&#39; disturbing an otherwise well-ordered society. It is also clear that for many years this has not been strictly an &#39;internal war&#39; the causes and effects of which are contained within Uganda&#39;s borders. As important as the &#39;history&#39; which emerges from this exercise, are the questions which such a history, although constructed entirely from ostensibly &#39;subjective&#39; memories, forces us to ask - not only about the events themselves, but about the weight and significance which must be accorded to these memories. While the personal events in and of themselves are often sobering, the way in which the thoughts and feelings about them will contribute to the future in the war zone also gives pause for thought: how will these memories inform the future actions of individuals and groups, the informal education of their children, the extent to which politicians can manipulate questions of identity? How will people link their personal experiences with their often acute observations, inferences and interpretations of the broader dynamics?
This paper analyses an influential report on supporting traditional reconciliation mechanisms whi... more This paper analyses an influential report on supporting traditional reconciliation mechanisms which in the late 1990s was seen as offering a possible solution to the long-running LRA-Government of Uganda conflict in northern Uganda. While not rejecting these, the working paper raises some issues relating to the report’s methodology, analysis, conceptual framework and proposed implementation plan. This was with a view to helping to realistically assess where the report’s recommendations fit in the broader context of the conflict and its possible resolution.
For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, m... more For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, making ‘integration’ a chimera. More recently, however, governments and international organizations have advocated for greater refugee integration and framed education as key to this process. For adult refugees, education in the place of asylum often focuses most heavily on language learning. This chapter explores the Refugee Law Project’s (RLP) English for Adults (EFA) program – the largest language education program for adult refugees residing in Uganda. This chapter describes how educators in the program enact a translanguaging pedagogy and explores what educators and students think about these non-traditional teaching practices. The chapter shows how educators take on the role of detective, co-learner, builder and transformer (Garcia O, The linguistic integration of adult migrants. Degruyter, 2017) to help students develop language skills and a sense of empowerment and belonging durin...
<p>This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence ... more <p>This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence and gender inequality in conflict situations. It argues that progress toward including men in policy and legal discourse has been stunted, despite repeated attempts to challenge the silencing of men's experiences. The chapter demonstrates how men can be simultaneously victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. It also highlights the importance of interrogating data collection methods in sexual violence studies. Reassessments of such statistics show that men are more frequently victims of sexual violence than had been previously assumed. To create alternative models of justice, this chapter calls for a conceptual shift that recognizes the gender-based harms men experience in conflict.</p>
Background Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known a... more Background Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known about the impact of these experiences among self-settled refugees in the country of asylum. We evaluated the association between traumatic experiences and PTSD and depression symptoms among female Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees living in Kampala, Uganda. Methods Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling in one refugee service center in Kampala, Uganda. Eligibility criteria included: Congolese nationality, age 18+ years, self-settled in Kampala for at least 6 months, refugee status or documentation of application for refugee status. Only data from female participants were included in this analysis. Depression symptoms were screened with the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and symptom criteria for PTSD and traumatic experiences were evaluated with the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed to separately assess associations bet...
Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has r... more Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as t...
Despite the wide repository of knowledge about conflict-related sexual violence that now exists, ... more Despite the wide repository of knowledge about conflict-related sexual violence that now exists, there remains a lack of understanding about how victims/survivors of such violence themselves make sense of and frame their experiences in conversation with global and local discourses and with the categorisations that underpin support programmes. Such sense-making is important not only because the ways in which violence is categorised shape a victim/survivor's ability to access particular forms of recognition and support, but also because it is central in how shattered selves and worlds are remade in the aftermath of violence. Drawing on individual and group interviews conducted with refugees living in Kampala, Uganda, this article charts how framings of ‘torture’ and ‘sexual violence’ become meaningful in participants’ accounts in the (re)formation of themselves as subjects after violent victimisation. We trace how participants navigate the heteronormative societal and legal norms ...
The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal... more The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal or operational controversies around humanitarian issues. In its issue on “Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict” (Vol. 96, No. 894, 2014), the Review published an Opinion Note by Chris Dolan entitled “Letting Go of the Gender Binary: Charting New Pathways for Humanitarian Interventions on Gender-Based Violence”, arguing for a shift in the conceptualization of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings from an emphasis on gender equality to an ethos of gender inclusivity. Jeanne…
In times of of high unemployment illegal immigrants are ready scapegoats for and unemployed alike... more In times of of high unemployment illegal immigrants are ready scapegoats for and unemployed alike. This finds expression in exclusionary policy responses including denial of legal status and, more forcefully, physical deportation. However the case of Mozambicans in South Africa demonstrates how these responses in themselves created dynamics in the labour market which are detrimental to those offering labour, whether legally or not. The key dynamic is the formation of a vulnerable pool of exploitable labour in certain sectors of the economy. The authors suggest that greater recognition of rights would have a stabilising effect on labour movement as well as permitting informed policy responses to the wider social and political issues asssociated with population movements
Refugee Education across the Lifespan: Mapping Experiences of Language Learning and Use, 2021
For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, m... more For decades, many countries have kept refugees in settlements separated from local populations, making ‘integration’ a chimera. More recently, however, governments and international organizations have advocated for greater refugee integration and framed education as key to this process. For adult refugees, education in the place of asylum often focuses most heavily on language learning. This chapter explores the Refugee Law Project’s (RLP) English for Adults (EFA) program – the largest language education program for adult refugees residing in Uganda. This chapter describes how educators in the program enact a translanguaging pedagogy and explores what educators and students think about these non-traditional teaching practices. The chapter shows how educators take on the role of detective, co-learner, builder and transformer
This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence and gende... more This chapter explores the exclusion of civilian men from discussions of gender violence and gender inequality in conflict situations. It argues that progress toward including men in policy and legal discourse has been stunted, despite repeated attempts to challenge the silencing of men’s experiences. The chapter demonstrates how men can be simultaneously victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. It also highlights the importance of interrogating data collection methods in sexual violence studies. Reassessments of such statistics show that men are more frequently victims of sexual violence than had been previously assumed. To create alternative models of justice, this chapter calls for a conceptual shift that recognizes the gender-based harms men experience in conflict.
Whilst sexual violence against men in armed conflicts has long been marginalized in research and ... more Whilst sexual violence against men in armed conflicts has long been marginalized in research and policy, the recognition that it is far more widespread than previously understood is slowly gaining ground. Based on research carried out in Uganda in 2015, this article explores how a group of male refugee survivors of sexual violence have been able to organize, heal and become activists, and reflects on how we should understand and engage with this struggle. We hear how these men have begun to heal through mutual support and politicized collective action, and how humanitarian organizations and service providers can play crucial roles in support. The authors call for: challenging binary views of gender that permeate much current policy; developing open-ended, survivor-driven psycho-social support models; and supporting refugee male survivors' activism through action research into advocacy and global networking strategy, to continue destabilizing the silence over male victimization in conflictrelated sexual violence.
Much has happened in debates, practice and policy on gender in development since the millennium, ... more Much has happened in debates, practice and policy on gender in development since the millennium, when an IDS Bulletin was first published on 'Men, Masculinities and Development'. The present issue picks up on several developments in the interim, by drawing contributions from participants at a recent international symposium, 'Undressing Patriarchy'. It explores the shifting field of men and masculinities in development and how the field's often conflicted engagements with the feminist project of redressing gender inequalities might be radicalised through a deeper analysis of patriarchy and our relationship to it, as well as by linking it to other struggles for sexual and human rights, or social justice. The introduction sets the context and gives a brief background to our rationale for 'undressing patriarchy' as our chosen approach.
Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has r... more Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as t...
Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known about the im... more Violence and traumatic events are highly prevalent among refugees, but less is known about the impact of these experiences among self-settled refugees in the country of asylum. We evaluated the association between traumatic experiences and PTSD and depression symptoms among female Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees living in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling in one refugee service center in Kampala, Uganda. Eligibility criteria included: Congolese nationality, age 18+ years, self-settled in Kampala for at least 6 months, refugee status or documentation of application for refugee status. Only data from female participants were included in this analysis.
This opinion note highlights the fact that increasing acknowledgement in some quarters that women... more This opinion note highlights the fact that increasing acknowledgement in some quarters that women and girls are not the only victims of sexual violence, and that sexual violence is not the only form of gender-based violence (GBV), has yet to be adequately reflected in policy and practice in the humanitarian world.
The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal... more The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal or operational controversies around humanitarian issues. In its issue on “Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict” (Vol. 96, No. 894, 2014), the Review published an Opinion Note by Chris Dolan entitled “Letting Go of the Gender Binary: Charting New Pathways for Humanitarian Interventions on Gender-Based Violence”, arguing for a shift in the conceptualization of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings from an emphasis on gender equality to an ethos of gender inclusivity. Jeanne Ward's reply, “It's Not About the Gender Binary, It's About the Gender Hierarchy”, was published in a later issue of the Review (Vol. 98, No. 901, 2016). Ward suggested retaining a focus on women and girls in GBV work, while moving forward in partnership with those who wish to accelerate programming directed towards men and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities broadly. In this issue, Dolan responds to Ward's position, pointing to empirical and practical developments that have advanced the understanding of how to effectively respond to GBV, including GBV perpetrated against men, boys and members of the LGBTI community. Dolan calls for the IASC Guidelines to be revised in 2020 to be the guiding text on preventing and responding to GBV in humanitarian settings, and explores what it means to do inclusive gender while also tackling hierarchies.
The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal... more The “Debate” section of the Review aims to contribute to the reflection on current ethical, legal or operational controversies around humanitarian issues. In its issue on “Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict” (Vol. 96, No. 894, 2014), the Review published an Opinion Note by Chris Dolan entitled “Letting Go of the Gender Binary: Charting New Pathways for Humanitarian Interventions on Gender-Based Violence”, arguing for a shift in the conceptualization of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings from an emphasis on gender equality to an ethos of gender inclusivity. Jeanne Ward's reply, “It's Not About the Gender Binary, It's About the Gender Hierarchy”, was published in a later issue of the Review (Vol. 98, No. 901, 2016). Ward suggested retaining a focus on women and girls in GBV work, while moving forward in partnership with those who wish to accelerate programming directed towards men and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities broadly. In this issue, Dolan responds to Ward's position, pointing to empirical and practical developments that have advanced the understanding of how to effectively respond to GBV, including GBV perpetrated against men, boys and members of the LGBTI community. Dolan calls for the IASC Guidelines to be revised in 2020 to be the guiding text on preventing and responding to GBV in humanitarian settings, and explores what it means to do inclusive gender while also tackling hierarchies.
Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has r... more Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as themselves as sexual, social, embodied subjects. Read together, these conflicted and conflicting testimonies offer a vantage point from which to rethink some of the reductive truisms that persist in dominant policy-friendly accounts of wartime sexual violence—namely that such violence is about power and not about ‘sex’. The participants’ accounts thus urge us, as scholars and policy advocates, to resist reducing the multi-layered experiences of victim/survivors of sexual violence to fit into the palatable narratives of victimhood that prevail in humanitarian, juridical and policy spaces.
This article relates the legal status of Mozambicans in South Africa from 1985 onwards to key fin... more This article relates the legal status of Mozambicans in South Africa from 1985 onwards to key findings of a demographic census taken in 1992, an environmental health survey conducted in 1993, and in-depth fieldwork in some of the surveyed settlements in 1995. The case study area on the border with Mozambique is typical of South Africa's rural former homelands, with the exception that it has a large and long-standing refugee population. The environmental health indicators for refugees are considerably worse than for their hosts, and in-depth fieldwork suggests that this can be attributed to their legal and political vulnerability. This raises issues for South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Program, as well as conceptual challenges for promoters of human rights. Cet article traite du statut l?gal des Mozambicains en Afrique du Sud depuis 1985, en tirant parti des conclusions principales du recensement d?mographique de 1992, d'une ?tude sur la sant? environnementale de 1993, et d'?tudes approfondies men?es sur le terrain en 1995. Cette r?gion frontali?re du Mozambique ou se situe cette ?tude de cas est typique des anciens homelands ruraux de l'Afrique de Sud, ? l'?xception pr?s que cette r?gion abrite depuis longtemps une large population de r?fugi?s. Les indices de sant? environnementale des r?fugi?s sont tr?s inf?rieurs ? ceux de la population locale, alors que des ?tudes approfondies r?v?lent que cette situation peut ?tre attribu?e ? la vuln?rabilit? l?gale et politique des r?fugi?s. Cette situation souleve des questions dans le cadre du programme de reconstruction et d?v?loppment de l'Afrique du Sud, et lance un d?fi conceptuel aux promoteurs des droits de l'homme. Este articulo relaciona el estado legal de los Mozambiquenos en Sud Africa a partir de 1985, a ciertas conclusiones claves de un censo demogr?fico que se llev? a cabo en 1992, como tambi?n a una encuesta realizada en 1993 sobre el estado del medio ambiente, y a un estudio de 1995 en ciertos poblados. El ?rea bajo estudio, la cual se encuentra en la frontera con Mozambique, es un ?rea tipica de las antiguas tierras patrias rurales de Sud Africa, con la excepci?n de que ?sta tiene una poblaci?n numerosa y duradera de refugiados. Los indicadores de salud ambiental para los refugiados se encuentran en un peor nivel que aquellos para sus anfitriones, y un estudio de profundidad sugiere que este hecho se puede atribuir a la vulnerabilidad legal ypolitica de los refugiados. Esto plantea ciertas cuestiones para el Programa de Reconstrucci?n y Desarrollo de Sud Africa, al igual que un numero de desafios conceptuales para aquellos que promueven los derechos humanos.
... in northern Uganda, and dozens of soldiers serving with the 10,000-strong force in south... more ... in northern Uganda, and dozens of soldiers serving with the 10,000-strong force in southernSudan ... While the blame does not lie with the Optional Proto-col itself, one can ... the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children report, Against all odds: Surviving the ...
Much has happened in debates, practice and policy on gender in development since the millennium, ... more Much has happened in debates, practice and policy on gender in development since the millennium, when an IDS Bulletin was first published on ‘Men, Masculinities and Development’. The present issue picks up on several developments in the interim, by drawing contributions from participants at a recent international symposium, ‘Undressing Patriarchy’. It explores the shifting field of men and masculinities in development and how the field’s often conflicted engagements with the feminist project of redressing gender inequalities might be radicalised through a deeper analysis of patriarchy and our relationship to it, as well as by linking it to other struggles for sexual and human rights, or social justice. The introduction sets the context and gives a brief background to our rationale for ‘undressing patriarchy’ as our chosen approach. The authors then comment on the contributions to each section of the IDS Bulletin, and conclude with an outline of some future priorities.
Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has r... more Despite the prominent attention that the problem of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has recently garnered globally, we still know far too little about what is sexual about sexual violence, according to whom, as well as why and how this matters in our efforts to prevent and redress its harms. A growing theoretical, political, legal and ethical imperative to ask questions about the sexual part of sexual violence across both war and peace is nonetheless emerging. This article therefore turns to the accounts of male and female survivors of CRSV at the at the Refugee Law Project (RLP) in Kampala, Uganda. In our reading of their accounts, we explore how the participants understand the possible imbrication of the perpetrator's sexual desire and pleasure with the violence they inflicted, as well as how they deem such intermeshing impossible or deeply problematic in and to the gendered frames that govern how they think about the distinctions between violence and sex, as well as themselves as sexual, social, embodied subjects. Read together, these conflicted and conflicting testimonies offer a vantage point from which to rethink some of the reductive truisms that persist in dominant policy-friendly accounts of wartime sexual violence—namely that such violence is about power and not about ‘sex’. The participants’ accounts thus urge us, as scholars and policy advocates, to resist reducing the multi-layered experiences of victim/survivors of sexual violence to fit into the palatable narratives of victimhood that prevail in humanitarian, juridical and policy spaces.
Book review on Anthony Richmond's book entitled 'Global Apartheid. Refugees, Racism and the New W... more Book review on Anthony Richmond's book entitled 'Global Apartheid. Refugees, Racism and the New World Order'.
Book review on Anthony Richmond's book entitled 'Global Apartheid. Refugees, Racism and the New W... more Book review on Anthony Richmond's book entitled 'Global Apartheid. Refugees, Racism and the New World Order'.
The film's title, 'They Slept With Me' immediately raises two urgent questions for anyone concern... more The film's title, 'They Slept With Me' immediately raises two urgent questions for anyone concerned with the search for justice: Who were 'They'?.... and who was 'Me'?
Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University, 2018
This film captures the testimony of a male survivor of conflict-related sexual violence whose per... more This film captures the testimony of a male survivor of conflict-related sexual violence whose perpetrator, unusually, was female. His words reflect the struggle of many survivors to reconcile their experience with what they have been taught to believe about male sexuality
Refugee Law Project, School of Law - Makerere University, 2019
What makes violence sexual? The International Criminal Court’s legal texts don’t define the term ... more What makes violence sexual? The International Criminal Court’s legal texts don’t define the term “sexual violence” or provide examples of acts which might be perceived to be sexual. This video was a contribution to the campaign of the Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice campaign to shape contemporary and victim-centric guidance to international criminal law practitioners on what makes violence sexual.
Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University, 2021
Bringing Up Our Enemies’ Child dives into the nuances of what it means for a community to come to... more Bringing Up Our Enemies’ Child dives into the nuances of what it means for a community to come to terms with the impacts of Conflict Related Sexual Violence. It traverses individual, family and community boundaries, and asks of policy makers, humanitarian actors, academics that we reimagine interventions in support of victims of conflict-related sexual violence.
This report outlines the structure of the proceedings of a major conference held in Gulu from 27 ... more This report outlines the structure of the proceedings of a major conference held in Gulu from 27 September - 1 October 1999. It presents major findings and recommendations, and provides a brief commentary to these. At the recommendation of participants it was circulated nationally & internationally. The Aim of the Conference was 'To strengthen the Reconciliation Agenda in Northern Uganda through creating a forum and providing a deeper understanding of the conflict situation and of initiatives taken to a address it' The lull in military activity in Gulu and Kitgum districts since early 1999 had raised hopes that this was the precursor to a more durable peace. But to turn a lull into real 'peace' would require a broadening of the Reconciliation Agenda. While all the existing 'peace building' activities were important, they neither addressed all the issues nor all the actors who would be critical if 'peace' were to be consolidated. The term 'Reconciliation Agenda' was used to signal to all concerned parties that, as in a formal meeting, certain issues had been tabled for discussion. As an agenda it was never intended to be final, for there would always need to be space for 'Any Other Business'. However, it formed a minimum of what would be discussed. This conference attempted to open up the 'Reconciliation Agenda' to as wide a range of concerned parties as possible given the then prevailing situation, always recognising that such an Agenda would be added to as understanding deepened, and the situation and needs changed. To facilitate this opening up of the agenda, ACORD, in collaboration with the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, and with assistance from the offices of the LCV & RDC Gulu & Kitgum districts, and Minister of State for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, hosted over 300 people at the Gulu District Farm Institute. They ranged from the Prime Minister of Uganda and the resident representatives of UNDP and the World Bank, to residents of Gulu District's 'Protected Villages'. They came from throughout Uganda, as well as eleven other African countries, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Canada and America. Financial support came from DFID, Belgian Government, Christian Aid and UNDP. UNDP also sponsored a number of specific research presentations which greatly broadened the scope of discussion.
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Papers by Chris Dolan
humanitarian action in Uganda’s forced migration context. It explores refugees' own desire for inclusion both in the use of social media broadly, and for the purposes of informing governance of humanitarian spaces specifically. It documents experiences of being excluded, but also the perspectives of humanitarian workers grappling with largely unexplored benefits and pitfalls of these non-traditional communication channels.
humanitarian action in Uganda’s forced migration context. It explores refugees' own desire for inclusion both in the use of social media broadly, and for the purposes of informing governance of humanitarian spaces specifically. It documents experiences of being excluded, but also the perspectives of humanitarian workers grappling with largely unexplored benefits and pitfalls of these non-traditional communication channels.
The Aim of the Conference was 'To strengthen the Reconciliation Agenda
in Northern Uganda through creating a forum and providing a deeper
understanding of the conflict situation and of initiatives taken to a address it'
The lull in military activity in Gulu and Kitgum districts since early 1999 had raised hopes that this was the precursor to a more durable peace. But to turn a lull into real 'peace' would require a broadening of the Reconciliation Agenda. While all the existing 'peace building' activities were important, they neither addressed all the issues nor all the actors who would be
critical if 'peace' were to be consolidated. The term 'Reconciliation Agenda' was used to signal to all concerned parties that, as in a formal meeting, certain issues had been tabled for discussion. As an agenda it was never intended to be final, for there would always need to be space for 'Any Other Business'. However, it formed a minimum of what would be
discussed. This conference attempted to open up the 'Reconciliation Agenda' to as wide a range of concerned parties as possible given the then prevailing situation, always recognising that
such an Agenda would be added to as understanding deepened, and the situation and needs changed.
To facilitate this opening up of the agenda, ACORD, in collaboration with the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, and with assistance from the offices of the LCV & RDC Gulu & Kitgum districts, and Minister of State for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, hosted over 300 people at the Gulu District Farm Institute. They ranged from the Prime Minister of Uganda and the resident representatives of UNDP and the World Bank, to residents of Gulu
District's 'Protected Villages'. They came from throughout Uganda, as well as eleven other African countries, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Canada and America. Financial support came from DFID, Belgian Government, Christian Aid and UNDP. UNDP also sponsored a number of specific research presentations which greatly broadened the scope of discussion.