WOMEN AND CONFLICT: A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN AFTER THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA

Abstract

The genocide that occurs in Rwanda in 1994 was considered by the international community as one of the most horrendous events in the Twentieth century. Many studies tried to understand the causes and consequences, but the role of women before, during and after the event has not been analyze as it should. This research focus on the role of women after the genocide, especially as victims and survivors of such an event. Through a deep and critical analysis of specialized literature the author intends to understand and comprehend the measures taken by the state structure and the international legal system to deal with the aftermath of the genocide in women´s bodies and minds. The utilization of the feminist and post-colonial theories are the two main elements that act as a base to understand the formation and development of the Rwandan state and the actions that led to the genocide. The theories will also serve in the analysis that the role of women has on the measures taken by the ICTR, the Rwandan Judicial system and the Gacaca courts, as it will be seen, this instruments lacks feminist perspective and therefore prevented a proper healing and restorative process for women victims of genocide.