Stream Summary: Transformation and Empowerment 

Published July 29, 2024 Dr Angelika Rettberg Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
Transformation and Empowerment Afghanistan Colombia Kurdistan-Iraq Sri Lanka Uganda

Hub Co-Directors: Professor Angelika Rettberg, Universidad de los Andes and Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Queen’s University Belfast.

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The Transformation and Empowerment (T&E) stream is an integral part of the broader Hub aimed at advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality, SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The focus of T&E is on exploring the concepts of ‘transformative justice’ and ‘empowerment’ within conflict-affected societies, aiming to understand who is being empowered and how in these contexts, and the challenges faced by those seeking empowerment, both practically and institutionally, in multiple conflict and post-conflict societies. The work stream addresses key questions and challenges for achieving gender equality in post-conflict countries such as Sri Lanka, Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Nepal, Uganda and Rwanda. Post-conflict societies face a myriad of challenges, including institutional fragility, political polarisation, divided communities, the impact of war on women’s rights, victim reparations, reconciliation, gender-based violence, new forms of violence, colonial legacies and the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms. The Hub’s work underscores the layered, intersectional and multidimensional nature of these issues, which may vary across countries and cultures, yet share similar challenges. 

Comparative analysis and recommendations from T&E projects highlight several key findings: 

  • Insufficient women’s rights reforms and lack of institutional transformation: The projects reveal that legal/political reforms and institutional changes addressing women’s rights have been insufficient, and this is especially salient when incorporating intersectional analyses. For instance, in Colombia, there have been failures to guarantee women’s rights, but there have been significant variations in how this affects women of different ethnicities, which exposes overlooked structural inequalities.
  • Colonial legacies in transitional justice: The Hub emphasises the need for transitional justice mechanisms to address colonial legacies, recognising their long-term structural impact on women’s and men’s engagement in various aspects of society.
  • Political unwillingness to implement transitional justice mechanisms poses significant challenges: These mechanisms, integral to addressing historical injustices and fostering reconciliation, often face resistance due to the polarised environment created by political forces. As a result, the rights and remedies of victims remain unfulfilled, highlighting a critical obstacle to the effective implementation of transitional justice.
  • Complexities of reconciliation: Projects studying reconciliation in post-conflict societies highlight its complex and multi-layered nature. Reconciliation efforts must consider factors such as age, gender and the type of victimisation experienced. Tailored measures aligned with diverse populations’ expectations and needs are crucial.
  • Centrality of women’s voices: A common recommendation is to place women and their voices at the centre of transformations and interventions in post-war settings. Recognising women’s agency and the importance of their participation in justice and security is essential, aligning with international agendas such as WPS and SDGs.
  • Use of culture in addressing conflict struggles: The T&E stream emphasises the potential of using culture and related approaches to address post-conflict struggles. Cultural endeavours that generate sustainable livelihoods using women’s tacit knowledge, from the safety of their homes is a key source of empowerment. Culturally relevant and locally valued practices enable reparations, healing and a sense of dignity to be maintained, which in turn strengthens women’s movements. 
  • Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Despite progress in research and practice, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant setback. It has shifted the trajectory for achieving gender equality, with national and international policies seemingly regressing rather than progressing. Recognition of this impact is crucial for future initiatives. 
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Hub members

Dr Angelika Rettberg Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

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