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91. Security and Sustainable Development in Bogotá, Colombia

Author:
Juan Felipe Godoy, Claudia Rodríguez, and Hernando Zuleta
Publication Date:
10-2018
Content Type:
Case Study
Institution:
Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)
Abstract:
SSR for Safer Cities - Supporting States to Achieve SDG 11 Safety and security has already become an urban experience for more than half of the world’s population. Against this backdrop, SDG 11 seeks to bring sustainable and peaceful development to the people who live in cities by calling on states to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Yet high rates of urban violence reflect a failure to address the challenges of urbanization in national and donor-supported strategies for security and development. Urban violence exacerbates state fragility and human suffering, endangers local and regional peace, and drives uncontrolled migration. This fact demonstrates the urgency of linking SDG 11 with SDG 5 on women’s empowerment and SDG 16 on peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Within this larger priority there is now a pressing need to address the immediate challenges of SSR in urban contexts, manifests in the purpose of DCAF’s Policy and Research Division project “SSR for Safer Cities” supported by the Human Security Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. As part of the project, three case studies on security in cities conducted by local experts over the course of 2018 examine SSR within the urban realm; the selected cities are Bogotá, Cape Town and General Santos City.
Topic:
Crime, Governance, Law Enforcement, Urbanization, Sustainable Development Goals, and Gender Based Violence
Political Geography:
Geneva, Colombia, South America, and United Nations

92. The role of parliaments in NATO member countries in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda

Author:
Sarah Ferbach, Audrey Reeves, Callum Watson, and Léa Lehouck
Publication Date:
01-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)
Abstract:
Since 2007, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has pursued an original and ground-breaking approach of mapping the distinctive contribution of its member parliaments to advancing the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda. Following on from previous reports in 2013 and in 2015, this study provides an up-to-date analysis of the 28 national responses to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly WPS survey in 2018. The main findings are as follows: 1. There was an increase in parliaments’ reported activity in the field of WPS, from 81% of respondents reporting some degree of involvement in 2015 to 100% in 2018. Countries with a National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security remain twice as active as countries without a NAP. 2. Of all participating delegations, 91% report that women recently occupied prominent functions related to peace and security in their parliament, thus contributing to enhancing women’s leadership in public debate on peace and security. 3. Parliamentary reports suggest that their engagement as legislative and oversight bodies has remained stable or slightly decreased in quantitative terms. Encouragingly, this engagement has nonetheless diversified in qualitative terms. Parliaments now report the development of legislation and resolutions on a greater variety of WPS themes and 36% mention using two or more monitoring mechanisms in overseeing the implementation of the WPS agenda, an increase from 24% in 2015. 4. Parliaments of NATO member countries have taken up NATO policy recommendations regarding dialogue with civil society organisations and cooperation with other NATO member states, with 17 delegations (61% of respondents) now reporting some activity in this area. The report includes full details and analysis of the survey responses as well as recommendations for parliaments in NATO member countries going forward.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, Development, Gender Issues, Refugee Issues, Peacekeeping, Women, and Gender Based Violence
Political Geography:
Geneva, Europe, and United Nations

93. #16DAYS: ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Author:
Marie Berry
Publication Date:
11-2018
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Political Violence @ A Glance
Abstract:
Last Sunday marked the start of #16days of Activism, a global campaign against gender-based violence. Championed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, and many other groups, the campaign is designed to generate momentum towards eliminating the pervasiveness of all forms of gendered violence, including the physical and sexual violence that one-third of women across the globe will be subjected to in their lifetime. This campaign comes at a time when thousands of Central American migrants are attempting to cross the US-Mexico border, where they have been met by militarized border police and tear gas. These refugees are fleeing from myriad forms of violence—including forcible recruitment to gangs, targeted assassinations, and widespread abuse and sexual violence from community members, security forces, and intimate partners alike. Many have continued to face tremendous levels of violence along their route to the US from smugglers, other migrants, or government officials—women in particular face gender-based abuse in transit or upon arrival, including high rates of sexual assault.
Topic:
Human Rights, United Nations, Women, and Gender Based Violence
Political Geography:
Global Focus

94. Impact of BRAC’s Coordinated Approach in Addressing Violence against Women and Children

Author:
Samir Ranjan Nath, Ruman Ali, Sharin Shajahan Naomi, and Raihana Azim Upoma
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University
Abstract:
Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) is a significant obstacle to reduce poverty, and achieve gender equality that is closely associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BRAC’s five years strategic plan (2016-2020) includes reducing violence, which indicates BRAC’s priority and concern to continue and develop its interventions for addressing violence against women and children. Part of this endeavour includes understanding existing gaps in the interventions and envisioning stronger interventions. Although BRAC’s six programs viz., CEP, HRLS, GJ&D, BEP, MF and HNPP have huge outreach across Bangladesh for creating awareness and taking action against VAWC, these programs have worked separately to combat the issue. The VAWC project intends to work on a comprehensive VAWC model that would bring coordination among the existing components or platforms functional in four programs to address the violence in three areas: protection, prevention and rehabilitation. This intervention of the coordinated approach is currently being piloted in Cumilla and Gazipur district of Bangladesh. After completion of the intervention, RED has conducted this study to see the impact of the intervention as well as the effectiveness of the coordinated approach that the program applied. The end line survey was focused on intimate partner violence as well as violence against children, and the qualitative part explored how the coordinated approach is working in the field through combining different program’s interventions. The quantitative survey found limited success of the program’s impact on intimate partner violence and violence against children that are deeply rooted in patriarchal ideology. However, the qualitative study found effectiveness and promising aspects of the coordinated approach in the areas of reporting, legal justice, preventing early marriage, linkage with local government, journalists and community leaders, and reintegration. Taking insights from both of the studies, the research recommends exploring new means for creating awareness on patriarchal ideology, scaling up the interventions on a long-term basis as well as more advocacy with government and local leaders.
Topic:
Women, Sustainable Development Goals, Gender Based Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Bangladesh and South Asia

95. ‘I Still Don’t Feel Safe to Go Home’: Voices of Rohingya Refugees

Author:
Edmund Cairns
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Since 25 August, more than 626,000 Rohingya have reached Bangladesh from Myanmar. Rohingya women and men have told Oxfam devastating stories of killings, rape and sexual violence. This report is an opportunity for some of them to share their stories, hopes, and their experiences of living in overcrowded refugee camps with overflowing latrines and contaminated water. Heavy rains and the cyclone season in 2018 threaten to bring new disaster and increase the risk of cholera. And irrespective of the recent bilateral agreement between Myanmar and Bangladesh, most Rohingya are terrified of returning to Myanmar while the discrimination that drove them away is unchanged.
Topic:
Diplomacy, Bilateral Relations, Refugee Crisis, Gender Based Violence, Violence, Sexual Violence, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:
Bangladesh, Asia, and Myanmar

96. National Action Plans on Preventing Violent Extremism: A Gendered Content Analysis

Publication Date:
09-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
Abstract:
Due to the importance of National Action Plans as policy instruments in the prevention of and protection against violent extremism, and the ongoing work in this realm by national governments and civil society organizations, the International Civil Society Network (ICAN) sought to gain a better understanding of the content of the plans that have been published thus far in 2017, and to highlight good practices and gaps particularly in relation to the inclusion of civil society and gender perspectives and priorities. To this end, ICAN conducted a content analysis of nine NAPs, analyzing whether and how specific themes and target groups were discussed, including education, media, civil society, gender/ women, and human rights.
Topic:
Civil Society, Violent Extremism, Women, Gender Based Violence, Policy Implementation, WPS, and Civil Society Organizations
Political Geography:
Global Focus

97. Multidimensional Impact Evaluation

Author:
Bilal Malaeb and Eustace Uzor
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA)
Abstract:
Ending (extreme) poverty in all of its forms everywhere around the world continues to dominate the International Development Agenda (UN 2015). However, while poverty is declining in much of the developing world, data from the World Development Report (WDR) Conflict, Security, and Development reveal that fragile and conflict-affected states are lagging behind. The report points out that ‘Poverty rates are 20 percentage points higher in countries affected by repeated cycles of violence over the last three decades. Indeed, with the worlds extreme poor over represented in fragile and conflict-affected ,some authors argue that violent conflict is development in reverse
Topic:
Economics, Gender Issues, Poverty, United Nations, Women, Gender Based Violence, and Economic Development
Political Geography:
Africa, North Uganda, and Global Focus

98. Using technology to improve women’s safety in Pakistan’s urban transit systems

Author:
Ammar A. Malik, Yasemin Irvin-Erickson, and Faisal Kamiran
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Urban Institute
Abstract:
As cities around the world invest billions in new mass transit systems, people’s experiences and fears of victimization in public spaces cause gender disparities in accessibility. Gendered social norms regarding women’s traditional role in society and control over income further limits women’s access to mass transit systems. Although fear of crime affects all transit users, sexual harassment and victimization is a larger concern for women and girls, and it restricts their mobility and hampers access to economic opportunity. As we learn more about this problem, we are looking for solutions, including technology, that can lower the risk of victimization and help women feel more safe on public transit.
Topic:
Crime, Science and Technology, Women, Gender Based Violence, and Urban
Political Geography:
Pakistan and South Asia

99. A tale of two cities: Why there is no “one solution” to combating spousal abuse

Author:
Ammar A. Malik and Jared Stolove
Publication Date:
08-2017
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Urban Institute
Abstract:
The World Health Organization has identified Southeast Asia as the region of the world with the highest rates of domestic violence, with 37.7 percent of women experiencing spousal abuse. This troubling statistic deserves the attention of policymakers and nongovernmental organizations looking to reduce domestic abuse. But those designing interventions should not treat this region as a monolith. Recent research has highlighted that domestic violence is the result of community- and individual-level factors. Although certain socioeconomic groups, such as the impoverished and the poorly educated, are generally more likely to be the victims of domestic violence, the factors that put individual women at risk of abuse vary across communities. Policymakers aiming to reduce spousal violence must be conscious of local context when designing interventions. Otherwise, policymakers risk using valuable resources on ineffective projects that do not address the root causes of domestic violence. Recent fieldwork by the Urban Institute profiles how different the causes of domestic violence can be, even among similar socioeconomic groups.
Topic:
Women, Gender Based Violence, Cities, and Domestic Violence
Political Geography:
Pakistan, South Asia, and India

100. Violence Against Women in Elections Framework

Author:
Jessica Huber and Lisa Kammerud
Publication Date:
02-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Abstract:
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) recognizes that violence against women in elections is a threat to the integrity of the electoral process – it can affect women’s participation as voters, candidates, election officials, activists, and political party leaders, and it undermines the free, fair, and inclusive democratic process. In an effort to better understand and address the ways in which electoral violence creates a barrier to women’s participation, IFES has developed the Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWIE) Framework to specifically identify and address the unique issues related to gender-based election violence. Through analysis and program implementation focused on increasing women’s participation and leadership in democracy assistance, the VAWIE Framework makes narratives of violence against women in elections in their homes, political arenas and public spaces more visible. This is part of IFES’ overall approach to electoral security, which is human-centered, in line with IFES' mission to support citizens' right to participate in free and fair elections, allows for a more holistic approach to security that covers all phases and activities of the electoral process and adheres to international standards and norms governing elections.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Elections, Women, and Gender Based Violence
Political Geography:
Global Focus