women as well as marginalized women who were known victims in their communities . The short-term consequence of unevenly distributed aid was that preferential treatment for Tutsi women led to the exclusion and silencing of Hutu women who had similar needs and experiences . In the long term , women who fell outside this category remained on the margins and continue to be disenfranchised by their government despite the Rwandan government ’ s gaining international recognition for its promotion of gender equality and women in government . Today , Rwanda boasts a lower house that is comprised of 64 percent women , most of whom are wealthy , anglophone , and affiliated with the RPF — all traits that most likely also mean they are Tutsi . Women who do not fit this description continue to be marginalized .
The exclusion of Hutu women from current Rwandan politics was not solely caused by international intervention , but it was certainly exacerbated by it . While perhaps unintentional , the manner in which the humanitarian community neglected the needs of Hutu victims was in direct conflict with the humanitarian principle of impartiality — that is , that all populations should be provided with the same level of aid . An approach that adhered to this principle and to the standards of a gendered perspective for humanitarian assistance would have recognized the diverse needs of multiple populations impacted by the Rwandan genocide and addressed those needs with neutrality . This case study , therefore , serves as an example of how humanitarian efforts can be improved in future conflict-related emergencies by encouraging better situational reporting and gender analysis of the affected populations .
Recommendation .
Future responses to complex emergencies should apply a gender perspective that considers gender , ethnicity , religion , age , and other group identities in the situational analysis before acting . To collect and document this information , affected populations should be consulted to determine what kind of aid is most needed , as well as the requirements for receiving that aid . This will help to guarantee better impartiality and more effective assistance for all affected populations .
Implications .
To neglect the needs of some victims in favor of others has long-term impacts that can lead to continued inequities and conflict in the future , in addition to neglecting the needs of certain groups or identities in the short term . Taking a gendered approach should inherently encompass a multitude of women , men , boys , and girls in any humanitarian response in a way that considers all categories of protected identities in addition to gender and ensures fair provision of services to recipients who may not even have identities that commonly need protection .
Event Description .
This lesson is based on the author ’ s personal experience while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Rwanda , and on news articles , humanitarian reports , and academic critiques of the response . The author of this lesson holds a certificate in Humanitarian Assistance from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and has worked as a humanitarian researcher for a variety of organizations , including Oxfam America , the International Rescue Committee , the International Medical Corps , and the Sphere Handbook for Humanitarian Action .
NOTE : Please view this lesson in SOLLIMS to see footnotes and references .
Lesson Author : Catie Fowler , Project Coordinator at Our Secure Future : Women Make the Difference , a program of One Earth Future
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