Gender and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration: reviewing and advancing the field

Processes of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) seek to improve the security and stability of post-conflict societies. This chapter explores a gender-focused approach to DDR that has three primary components: conducting gender analyses of standards of support for women in DDR programs; prioritizing parallel programs for women; and demilitarizing masculinity and femininity. Historical difficulties in establishing DDR programs that respond to the needs of women are explained by four challenges: exclusion of women due to restrictive definitions of “combatants”; programming that does not reflect the specific experiences of women; a reluctance to look beyond traditional DDR programs toward alternates; and a failure to address the militarized masculinities of male combatants. The chapter concludes by suggesting that DDR programs move toward a “portfolio view.” This would allow participants greater flexibility to choose the programming that best meets their needs by providing participants a menu of options.