Gender, Displacement and Transitional Justice: The Role of UNHCR and IOM

• In Event: Gendered Migration and Displacement

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, there has been huge emphasis on the need for gendered mechanisms dealing with forced displacement, transitional justice and peacebuilding. The UN landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security (S/RES/1325), the gender mainstreaming of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (OHCHR 1998) have urged all actors to increase the participation of women in peacebuilding and their protection in instances of displacement. There’s underdeveloped link between these issues, particularly when looking at the relationship of displaced women to international migration organisations in the context of transitional justice. The research question thus is: "Does involvement in programmes run by international organisations (IO) such as UNHCR and IOM affect displaced and refugee women's agency in transitional justice contexts?"
This research brings together the fields of forced migration, transitional justice (TJ), and gender mainstreaming. In doing so, the author will assess the involvement of female IDPs, refugees and diaspora with migration organisations to assess whether these encourage greater political involvement of women in transitional justice. By conducting research with communities from Colombia - both female IDPs and refugees - with a link to UNHCR and IOM through programmes of return or protection, the author uses intersectionality and historical institutionalism to unpack themes related to agency in transitional justice and to highlight potential gaps between organisational policy and practice. The results of this research will have an impact on both the academic sector and the gender mainstreaming policies of international organisations in post-conflict and transitional contexts.

Author

• Sinead McGrath