WUNRN
Contact:
Dr. Susanne Buckley-Zistel - s.buckley-zistel@fu-berlin.de
Dr. Ruth Stanley - rstanley@zedat.fu-berlin.
Deadline:
1.11.2008.
Call
for Papers for Book on The Role of Gender in Transitional Justice
Dr.
Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Dr. Ruth Stanley - Free University
Transitional Justice (TJ)
refers to processes of dealing with the aftermath of violent conflicts and
human rights abuses. It makes use of a number of different instruments and
mechanisms, including national and international tribunals, truth commissions,
memory work, reparations and institutional reforms and security sector reform,
which aim at uncovering the truth about past crimes, putting past wrongs right,
holding perpetrators accountable, vindicating the dignity of victims-survivors
and contributing to reconciliation. TJ is at one and the same time oriented to
the past, in addressing the wrongs
that have been committed; to the present,
in establishing a new ethical and institutional framework; and through this, to
prevent the future occurrence of such
similar injustices. The concept has gained popularity among academics and
practitioners alike, yet little attention has thus far been given to the role
of gender in these processes. This is where the planned edited volume seeks to
make a timely and vital contribution and, by so doing, to provide impetus to
the growing debate on gender dimensions of transitional justice.
There are few studies on
“gender in TJ” and those that exist tend to focus almost exclusively on women
as victims of sexualised violence. This risks reducing women’s experiences of
violence and repression to a single dimension, as well as perpetuating gender
stereotypes. The objective of the book is to move beyond this narrow focus by contributing
to a gendered analysis of TJ.
This implies posing some
fundamental questions about TJ, including inter alia: Whose justice for
whom? Transition to what? Is TJ a global project transmitting hegemonic values,
and how does this impact on local needs and understandings of gender? How can
gendered perspectives be incorporated in competing understandings of TJ (as an
imperfect version of ordinary justice, as liberalizing justice, as restorative
justice)? If TJ is understood as a foundational project: How far do TJ
processes impact on gender relations? Do we need a broader conception of TJ
(e.g. one that fully incorporates economic, social and cultural rights) in
order for TJ to contribute to greater gender equality? And, how far do TJ
processes address specific constructions of masculinity?
We welcome proposals dealing
with the following broad themes, dealing, inter
alia, with the following:
1. Incorporation of gender
into competing theoretical concepts of transitional justice
2. Gender issues and specific
instruments of TJ
3. Conceptions of TJ in areas
of limited statehood: Transitioning to what?
4. TJ governance and the
rights of sexual minorities
Please send your abstract of
500-700 words to either Ruth Stanley or Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Free
University,
Contact details:
Dr. Susanne Buckley-Zistel
Dr. Ruth Stanley
Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science
Ihnestr. 26
14195 Berlin
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