Gender, flight and neglect: an examination of the sexual and gender-based violence against Congolese women refugees

Paper


Norris, David. 2012. "Gender, flight and neglect: an examination of the sexual and gender-based violence against Congolese women refugees." 35th AFSAAP Conference: Africa: People, Places and Spaces. Canberra, Australia 26 - 28 Nov 2012 Australia.
Paper/Presentation Title

Gender, flight and neglect: an examination of the sexual and gender-based violence against Congolese women refugees

Presentation TypePaper
Authors
AuthorNorris, David
Journal or Proceedings Title35th AFSAAP Annual Conference Proceedings
ERA Conference ID50210
Number of Pages9
Year2012
Place of PublicationAustralia
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://afsaap.org.au/conference/conference-2012/
Conference/Event35th AFSAAP Conference: Africa: People, Places and Spaces
African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific Annual Conference
Event Details
35th AFSAAP Conference: Africa: People, Places and Spaces
Parent
Africa: People, Places and Spaces
Event Date
26 to end of 28 Nov 2012
Event Location
Canberra, Australia
Event Details
African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific Annual Conference
AFSAAP
Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Congolese refugee women in their flight from conflict, examining the SGBV perpetrated against them therein. The experience of SGBV throughout flight is examined in order to ascertain its nature and intent. It is important to determine the pattern of sexual violence and whether or not the use of sexual violence is random or a strategic and systematic tool for multiple and widespread displacement. The paper also looks beyond the movement of people internally, and examines the population flow across state borders. In doing so, the paper assesses the consideration of gender in the paradigm of international law. Refugee law based on the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is examined from a gendered perspective to determine to what extant women’s persecution is considered or ignored throughout the legal process of refugee determination. The paper critically examines the gendered language and application of the Convention’s definition of a refugee and especially the use of the public/private binary in the examination of applicant’s experiences of persecution. Ultimately, this paper explores the insecurities of Congolese women, and the effectiveness of international refugee law to remedy said insecurity.

KeywordsCongolese women; refugees; sexual violence
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470211. Migrant cultural studies
441013. Sociology of migration, ethnicity and multiculturalism
Public Notes

© 2013 The African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific.

Byline AffiliationsFaculty of Arts
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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