Gender, conflict and international humanitarian law : a critique of the 'principle of distinction' / Orly Maya Stern.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stern, Orly, author.

Series:

Routledge studies in humanitarian action

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War--Protection of civilians.

War.

Combatants and noncombatants (International law).

Women and war.

Women (International law).

Women and war--Africa.

War--Protection of civilians--Africa.

Africa.

Physical Description:

ix, 242 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2019.

Summary:

"This book conducts a gendered critique of the 'principle of distinction' in international humanitarian law (IHL), with a focus on recent conflicts in Africa. The 'principle of distinction' is core to IHL, and regulates who can and cannot be targeted in armed conflict. It states that civilians may not be targeted in attack, while combatants and those civilians directly participating in hostilities can be. The law defines what it means to be a combatant and a civilian, and sets out what behaviour constitutes direct participation. Close examination of the origins of the principle reveals that IHL was based on a gendered view of conflict, which envisages men as fighters and women as victims of war. Problematically, this view often does not accord with the reality in 'new wars' today in which women are playing increasingly active roles, often forming the backbone of fighting groups, and performing functions on which armed groups are highly reliant. Using women's participation in 'new wars' in Africa as a study, this volume critically examines the principle through a gendered lens, questioning the extent to which the principle serves to protect women in modern conflicts and how it fails them. By doing so, it questions whether the principle of distinction is suitable to effectively regulate the conduct of hostilities in new wars. This book will be of much interest to students of international law, gender studies, African politics, war and conflict studies, and international relations"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The principle of distinction

Women in conflict in Africa

Gender and international humanitarian law

The divide between international and non-international armed conflicts : a precursory step to the application of the principle of distinction

Applying the principle of distinction to women in African war

Does the principle of distinction serve women in modern conflict?

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138307704

113830770X

OCLC:

1047524759