Conference on "Gender Concerns in Conflict Zones" at Mumbai
- Date :: 29th and 30th January 2011 -

NEGOTIATING SPACES: Gender Concerns in Conflict Zones
A two day conference by Majlis, 29th and 30th January 2011 in Mumbai

Women are constantly forced to negotiate for their rights between family, community and the state. But situations of conflict, strife and unrest pose myriad different challenges to women and their roles and render their negotiations with these institutions extremely complex.

What are the struggles that women encounter both internally within people’s movements and externally as equal stake holders in confrontations with the state? How do issues of violence play out in times of heightened conflict, what are the other dangers that confront women and what are the ways in which they cope with them? These are some of the concerns which need to be addressed while we examine the democratic rights and citizenship claims of women.

Blatant and gruesome sexual defiling of women’s bodies has been the most obvious mark of conflict. As bearers of their community identity, women are subjected to extreme sexual violence. But conflict situations also thrust upon women a new identity as that of protectors of their community, forcing them to become safety shields as well as negotiators of peace in unconventional ways of protest and resistance.

Women play an important role, not just as victims but as survivors of violence, as peace keepers of their communities and as bearers of their cultural identities. Do these situations of conflict open up newer spaces for women as equal citizens both in the domestic sphere and in the public and political domain? Are women in these situations able to transcend gender barriers and challenge patriarchal assumptions as active citizens? Or does this participation invoke greater violence and further constrain their spaces?

Moving further, how are women who stake their claim within liberation movements treated by their male counterparts? Are these women celebrated as ‘heroes’ in the post-conflict period. What further tensions and anxieties does the post conflict situation pose for women?

Many interlocked and layered questions like these will help us to redefine women’s gendered roles in conflict zones. This two day conference will have speakers who have been part of these political struggles providing incisive insights.

To participate please register at [email protected] or call Sindhu 022-26661252 / 26662394.

Flavia Agnes
Director

Topics

• Militarisation, Insurgencies and Peace Movements Voices of Women Kashmir and North East;
• Grassroot Struggles, State Repression and Gender Roles;
• Women’s Role in the Telengana Struggle;
• Communal Violence and Post Conflict Situations - Gujarat and Orissa;
• Dalit Women’s Struggles with State, Community and Civil Society;
• What Women Say: Participation and the UNSCR 1325 - Sri Lanka;
• The Way Forward