(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Throughout history, women have constantly been neglected as important peacemakers. But it is crucial to focus on women as leaders, peacemakers and community builders to overcome the root of today's conflicts.
In recent years, the extent of violent extremism and militarization has increased sharply in the broader Middle East and South Asia. Figures from the Global Terrorism Index show that the increase in people killed by terrorism was the largest ever from 2013 to 2014. The economic costs of terrorism and violent extremism are also record high: a staggering 53 billion US dollars. Almost 80 percent of all killings occurred in five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria. Ten of the 11 countries most affected by terrorism also have the highest numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons. This shows the strong connection between the refugee crisis, terror and armed conflicts.
Women stay. The governing powers in the region have also consistently become more authoritarian and oppressive. Fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, organizational freedom and equality are under enormous pressure – both from the authorities of countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey, and of course in areas dominated by ISIS and similar groups.
The first thing that happens in the countries characterized by violent conflicts and polarization is that the space of civil society is greatly reduced. Under the guise of preventing extremism, political opponents, journalists and rights defenders are arrested and terrorized.
The rise of jihadism and its ideology has made the fight for women's rights more precarious than ever in much of Asia and Africa. Sexual violence against women has been put into a cruel system with ISIS 'slave trade – but sexual abuse and violence against women is a huge societal problem that goes far beyond ISIS's areas.
Men make up the majority of those killed and the majority of those fleeing. Women are left behind and have to pick up the pieces. That is why it is absolutely crucial to really focus on women as leaders, peace brokers and community builders, in order to stabilize and get rid of the root of the conflicts.
Civil society is important. Throughout history, women have constantly been neglected as important peacemakers. How many people know that Bertha von Suttner is the woman behind the Nobel Peace Prize? Why have the countless women in various peace and civil rights movements through the years received so little attention, while men remain as historical icons?
In the year 2000, resolution 1325 on women, peace and security was adopted by the UN Security Council. Last week I was fortunate enough to meet one of the key women in the work to implement this resolution, Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini. She is the founder of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and chair of the Women's Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), which was launched with Norwegian support during the UN General Assembly in September last year. The alliance supports peace activists in the field and works for grassroots-level women's organizations to be heard in national and international political channels and processes.
In a time of extremism and polarization, the moderate civil society must be cultivated and expanded. Where there is no living, inclusive and tolerant civil society – and thus not a moderate sphere of different interests – thoughts, interests and ideologies will go underground and provide a basis for radicalization.
WASL raises the voices of women-led organizations, and ensures that they are heard by policy makers and premise providers in the international discourse on the prevention of extremism and terror. In a recent report, they allow a number of local women peace activists to speak out, and the advice they bring to the table is concrete, practical and knowledge-based.
Norway towards better knowing. In its latest report, the Alliance also writes about how so-called preventive measures against violent extremism do more harm than good where authoritarian states tighten the possibility of political pluralism and opposition. The regimes in the region, allied with the West, use the fight against terror to suppress legitimate NGOs, journalists and political groups who criticize the government or are otherwise seen as an unwanted power factor.
This is something the Norwegian authorities should be aware of. Therefore, on 26 April 2016, it is particularly serious that the Storting approved the sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, which is a global stalemate on human rights violations and oppression of its own population, with particularly severe women's suicide bombings. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is the aggressive party in the war against Yemen, causing civilian suffering to a huge extent. Ideologically, Saudi Arabia and ISIS are virtually identical, so preventing violent extremism makes no sense if it doesn't include countries like Saudi Arabia.
Women's rights groups have warned against the rise of extremism in the Middle East and Asia for three decades, and they have the necessary in-depth knowledge of how violent extremism affects people's lives, and the immensely complex dynamics of the emerging conflicts. Why does gender equality-oriented Norway make decisions that go beyond their concrete and informed assessments?
Linda Noor is the general manager of Minotenk and a trained social anthropologist. She contributes regularly to Ny Tid with the column Krysskultur. linda@minotenk.no
