Book

IHL and gender : Swedish experiences

ed. by Cecilia Tengroth and Kristina Lindvall

Stockholm : Swedish Red Cross ; Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2015

164 p. : diagr. ; 24 cm

978-91-637-9630-2

English

Bibliographies

Armed conflict impacts women, girls, boys and men in different ways. Gender - together with factors such as age, ethnicity and class - influences the status, roles, power, risks, needs, capacities, resources, constraints and opportunities for people in any society. Existing gender norms, inequalities and preconceived gender stereotypes impact the lives of all individuals. It is therefore essential for humanitarian action in the context of armed conflict, and the application of international humanitarian law, to consider the distinct and diverse status, needs and capacities of women, girls, men and boys. In other words, in order to be effective and non-discriminatory IHL must be analysed, applied and developed with a "gender perspective". This publication summarises the joint Swedish and Swedish Red Cross efforts between 2011 and 2015 in the field of IHL and gender. It includes both theoretical analyses and practical tools (good practices, checklists and recommendations) intended to enhance the understanding of what a gender perspective on IHL can entail for both civilian and military decision-makers with responsibilities under IHL.

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