Women, Peace, and Security: About Me

Emmicki Roos

Gender and Conflict Researcher and Advocate / Founder of the Women, Peace, and Security Blog

After graduating with a bachelors degree in Political Science from Concordia University (Canada) and a masters degree in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands) I have spent the last couple of years working on sexual violence in conflict and women's political participation. In 2009 I conducted research on the challenges to reintegration for women survivors of sexual violence in Kenya in the aftermath of the post-election violence. I have since worked for Oxfam, the International Rescue Committee, and the former (UN) Senior Advisor and Coordinator on Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, I have assisted the British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG), Crisis Action, Congo Now!, Women for Women International, and V-day etc.

E-mail: Emmicki.Roos@gmail.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/emmickiroos

The Women, Peace, and Security Blog can now also be found in the NATO Library Research Guide on women, peace, and security : http://natolibguides.info/content.php?pid=158866&sid=1344319 and at Ch16.org under women and girls in conflict: http://ch16.org/armed-violence/women-and-girls-in-conflict/

WELCOME TO MY BLOG "Women, Peace, and Security"

In 2009 I interviewed a woman about her experiences during the post-election violence in Kenya. The woman's name was Amina, a thirty year old mother of two. During the interview Amina described the night that changed her life:

"Me and my husband were walking home in the dark, it was the election night, when we were attacked by an angry mob. I recognized some of them as my neighbours. They separated us and started beating my husband and raping me. I don't know how many they were, after a while I lost count and became unconcious.

When I woke up I was in pain and bleeding. I found my husband who had been beaten to death, his dead body was lying on the ground covered in blood. After the rapes and murder of my husband, I was tested positive for HIV. I feel very weak and have a hard time supporting my two sons. In the community people look down on me, they think I killed my husband by giving him HIV and they say that I'm a bad woman for sleeping with all those other men."

Unfortunatly, Amina is not alone; women and girls often suffer sexual violence in conflict. Tens of thousands of women were raped in Bosnia, half a million during the Rwandan genocide, and every day women are raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Behind every statistic are stories like Amina's.

Last year the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallström visited the Congo and was told by a survivor that: "A dead rat is worth more than the body of a woman." This blog has been created to raise awareness of sexual violence in conflict and to empower women to work towards a better future were a woman's body is worth more than a dead rat, a future were women are not mere victims and survivors, but also leaders and respected members of their communities.

Together we can raise the awareness about sexual violence in conflict and push our governments to act. We all have a voice; we just have to make ourselves heard. So Please spread the word to friends and family and use facebook, twitter, and other social networking sites. My hope is that you will find this blog interesting and relevant and get back to me with tips, ideas, and comments.

Women build bridges of peace!

Emmicki Roos

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About Me