Colombian Leftist Non-State Armed Groups: The Gendered Experience of Conflict through to Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR)

Abstract

The prevailing approach which the Women, Peace and Security Agenda takes to inform gender sensitive Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) is important but ultimately inadequate in the pursuit of gender equality. This research uses a Gender Relational Analysis framework to analyse the evolution of DDR in the context of Colombia from a gender perspective. A phenomenological methodological approach and feminist research practices were employed and 49 interview participants from four Colombian leftist non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and a number of subject matter experts contributed. Against the background of how gender conscious thinking has evolved within Colombian reintegration, the research reveals how prior leftist NSAG participation comes to shape experience and expectation of reintegration, and critically engages with its effectiveness in challenging entrenched gender hierarchies of power in a transformative way to produce more inclusive and equitable peace. This research draws attention to the complex gendered identities of women and men and the ways in which they must renegotiate their identity within reintegration. It reveals the impact of gender equality ideology and collective group identity on former insurgents. It advocates for an embedded gender mandate from the outset of peace negotiations, for a gender relational approach to DDR, and reintegration which offers elements of collectivist and individualised model approaches. The outcome of the research is a substantial case study of reintegration in the Colombian context which shows the value of gender relational analysis as a methodological approach within peacebuilding.