What It Is To Be A Woman?

by Victor Cherubim
( June 11, 2014, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is not human to be a woman, but that is
what we expect in war, to be called a woman. In the hierarchical structure in society, male
dominance empowers life. Man is not only perceived as a symbol of patriotism, but conflict is
the driver for his power. This is what it means to be a man, to be both patriotic and in conflict.
Thus violence breeds man to overpower woman, in every part of the world. So said Keedi of
!", an or#anisation dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of women in
$ebanon, at the landmar% #lobal summit to &nd Sexual 'iolence in (onflict.
This three day event, )*+), -une ,*).,of world men and women leaders was co+hosted by
/illiam 0a#ue, !ritish 1orei#n Secretary and 0ollywood star, n#elina -olie, Special &nvoy
of the 23 0i#h (ommissioner for 4efu#ees at &xcel (entre, "oc%lands. $ondon.
The bac%#round on this summit is to translate the pril ,*)5 67 "eclaration on 8reventin#
Sexual 'iolence in (onflict, followed by the launch of the 23 6eneral ssembly "eclaration
of (ommitment of September ,*)5, bac%ed by )9* nations, includin# Sri $an%a, to shatter the
culture of sexual violence, increase the support for survivors and start chan#in# the #round
situation in most affected countries. /ithin a span of nine months real pro#ress at #rassroots
international level is seen, in en#a#in# the public to participate with over ):* events and the
attendance of over )** countries.
/e want to encoura#e men to spea% out, said /illiam 0a#ue, to a#ree that it is only a wea%
or inade;uate man who abuses women. It is not a si#n of stren#th, it is the ultimate wea%ness
and shame.
We wi come a!ter you" #ay# Joie
t the openin#, actress and campai#ner, n#elina -olie said that the conference sends out a
clear messa#e, round the world, to those who abuse women, in answer to the #rievances of
#irls %idnapped in 3i#eria, wives stoned in 8a%istan and women raped in many war <ones. =ou
see how women are treated and abused. 3o you can>t and we will come after you.
8oliticians alone with their poor standin# on social media and their narrow processes cannot
shift the dial on social chan#e. !ut social chan#e cannot happen without them. $e#islation
matters, 6overnments must be involved as well as the people.
She #ave the impression that she will wor% on this, for as lon# as it ta%es. She understood her
power base and was also pra#matic about it. !ut stated she is determined to use it to chan#e
#lobal attitudes to #ender issues in war.
$he %ictim# o! war
In the various panel discussions at the summit, the norms of Manhood and 6ender 4elations
were examined. The #eneral consensus was to stop violence before it be#ins. (ommunities
must underta%e to study the root causes and desi#n strate#ies of prevention. In most cases,
chan#in# deeply in#rained #ender norms and attitudes become necessary, particularly in
discussions en#a#in# men in preventin# violence a#ainst women.
The world ma%es violent men. 'iolence is a learned behaviour. The su##estion is that you
can beat violence throu#h innovation, collaboration, contribution of resources, s%ills trainin#,
networ%in# and influence. The data collected and available is that children, in particular #irls,
ma%e up a si#nificant number of survivors of sexual violence in many conflicts. dolescent
#irls are most vulnerable due to a combination of their #ender, a#e, reli#ion and discriminatory
social norms that affect their lives. This has been demonstrated recently in Syria, where the
threat of sexual violence has been a ma?or contributor to displacement as families flee the
conflict. 2nfortunately, an additional conse;uence has been, we were informed, an increase in
early and forced marria#es and refu#ee #irls traffic%in# amon# others.
&en are the bi' my#tery"
ll over the world, men are the bi# mystery. Men commit sexual violence for a variety of
reasons or for no apparent reason. "iscriminatory social norms, li%e honour and shame, the
restrictions on access to public space as well as public resources, community intent, the
perception of reli#ious beliefs and not reli#ion as such, the fallacy of men bein# the stron#er of
the sexes, environment and school upbrin#in#, all contribute to a false identity of man as the
protector and #uardian of women. /hen there is no apparent reason for sexual violence, power
is the hidden motive. These manifest differently in different socio+cultural and political
contexts and chan#e5 distinctly within conflicts. 0ere it is well to remember, that our conflict
in Sri $an%a seemed to be rather different to recent conflicts around different nations in the
world. This perhaps, was in at least one salient feature of conflict, the ferocity and exuberance
of an#er. This may be debatable.
(# %ioence )re%entabe*
The underlyin# theme of the summit is to examine ways and means of prevention of Sexual
'iolence in (onflict. Sexual violence committed in conflict cannot be divorced from une;ual
power relations between men and women in peacetime. &ndin# sexual violence in conflict
re;uires challen#in# #ender ine;uality in peacetime. &mpowerin# #irls and women to resist
violence, whether it is physical, verbal@psycholo#ical, sexual or economic, is one part of the
e;uation, whilst to access ?ustice and support when it does occur, is the other part of
prevention.