What the war left behind. A study on international policy for the social reintegration of stigmatized women in West Africa.

Abstract

This study aims to give insight into the repertoire of tools at the disposal of international actors to improve the social reintegration of victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in West Africa. By looking at earlier cases in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire an overview can be given of the tools that could be used to assist this goal in Nigeria. This study gives a description of the policies of HRW, the ICTJ and the UN regarding acknowledgement, community awareness and economic empowerment. According to scholars, these are the three themes that require attention in order to improve the situation of victims of SGBV. These international actors have recognized the special needs for the social reintegration of women and girls who face rejection by their communities and have incorporated ideas and actions to improve the situation of these victims in their policies. As an NGO that focuses on monitoring human rights abuses, HRW’s contribution to the social reintegration of women and girls mainly takes on the form of recommendations based on fact-finding. The ICTJ conducted multiple research projects but next to that was also actively involved in transitional justice mechanisms and outreach projects. The many different divisions of the UN have contributed to the functioning of TRCs and criminal courts and provided assistance and funding for the economic empowerment of victims.