Monday, April 29, 2024

Reaffirming the Role of the Movement as a Factor of Peace


Condensing into words the current geopolitical challenges of our times and the resulting human suffering around the world seems an impossible task; attempting to find the right adjectives can feel like an exercise in sensationalism or cynicism. Yet there are important trends that must be articulated to put the topic of this article into context and perspective. Nations continue to grapple with diverging interests, economic disparities, territorial disputes and ideological rifts, and tensions easily escalate, exposing the fragility in our institutions and societies. In a new paper, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has identified alarming trends showing an upsurge in both international and non-international armed conflicts since the 1990s, most notably a tripling in non-international armed conflicts since 2000.[1] Escalating levels of violence and insecurity disrupt societies, amplifying existing vulnerabilities and eroding public trust in local and international institutions – and their trust in each other. The 2023 Global Peace Index highlights just how susceptible nations are to external shocks, such as pandemics, economic upheavals and climate emergencies, which further exacerbate the impacts of armed conflicts and violence. The Movement is devastated by the increasing human suffering it witnesses around the world and feels it is a critical moment for us, as part of the international community, to return to an ever-present question: what is the connection between humanitarian action and the pursuit of peace?


There has long been a perceived tension between humanitarian action and peace work. This is understandable, given that the principles of neutrality and independence limit how far humanitarians can engage in the deeply political process of peacebuilding. At the same time, peace has always been a humanitarian imperative. There is no more effective way to address human suffering caused by conflict and violence than to work to end it. Throughout its history, the Movement has therefore carefully examined and debated its distinctive contribution to peace, which derives from its deep and lasting commitment to the overarching principles of humanity and respect for dignity. Indeed, over the past hundred years, the Movement has embraced nearly as many resolutions and documents pertaining to peace.[2]


In response to the overwhelming and ever-rising humanitarian impacts of armed conflicts and disasters, and the resulting vulnerabilities, the Movement must renew its efforts to contribute to conflict resolution and prevention in the ways set out in the Statutes and the mandates of its components: nurturing humanitarian values through education, promoting the understanding of and respect for IHL, engaging local youth and fostering multilateral cooperation. These endeavours are pivotal in promoting respect for the human dignity of all people, mitigating the risks of violence, discrimination and exclusion and fostering peaceful coexistence.


Peace has always been a core value for the Movement. Its motto Per humanitatem ad pacem – through humanity to peace – underscores its dedication to promoting peace as the ultimate goal for all societies and the condition necessary for human suffering to be truly alleviated. The Movement’s Statutes assert that “by its humanitarian work and the dissemination of its ideals, the Movement promotes a lasting peace”, defining “lasting peace” as not the mere absence of war but a dynamic process of cooperation rooted in respect for freedom, independence, national sovereignty, equality, human rights and equitable resource distribution to meet people’s needs. The process is founded on the Fundamental Principles and underpinned by a universal sense of solidarity toward those in need of protection and assistance. The Movement’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation and humanitarian values has continued to evolve throughout its extensive history.


The Movement remains steadfast in its dedication to seeking the positive and constructive resolution of issues, tensions and violence. This commitment has been echoed in various resolutions and pledges at Statutory Meetings over recent decades. The current resolution touches on some of the key elements that make up the Movement’s unique contribution in this area, including promoting IHL, supporting local community leadership and engagement and acknowledging the importance of youth and volunteerism, according to the specific and complementary mandates of the different Movement components. It also encourages further reflection and evidence-gathering to better understand the impacts of these efforts for peace. The 2024 Council of Delegates provides a timely opportunity for the Movement to return to and reaffirm its commitment to supporting peace and resilience as the world’s largest humanitarian network. 


this originally appeared here

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Harnessing youth power through partnerships: A participatory approach for global impact

Across the globe, we are witnessing a disturbing increase in extremism, inequalities, isolation, and social division. The global landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with a rising number of humanitarian crises and a growing number of people in need of assistance. In particular, today's generation of young people are facing unparalleled challenges and are disproportionately affected by these worsening inequalities.

In this context, it is more important than ever for actors to design policies and programmes in a participatory manner, involving young people, communities, and partners to ensure that they can be effective, relevant, sustainable, and meet the needs of the communities they serve. 

Unleashing the Power of 1.6 Billion Young People

With 1.6 billion young people worldwide, there exists untapped potential to harness the power of youth through participatory approaches, to address and positively contribute to some of the global challenges we face. 

Initiatives like the partnership between the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy of Qatar 2022 – Generation Amazing (GA) the Human & Social Legacy initiative of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, that works across IDP and disenfranchised communities in 75 countries in the Global North & Global South, positively impacting more than 1 million lives since 2010; and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - the world’s largest humanitarian network, supporting local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 191 countries, bringing together more than 16 million volunteers for the good of humanity - demonstrate the potential and impact of participatory approaches and co-creation.  

Multi-layered Participatory Approach in Action

This unique and innovative project unites young people and their communities through one of the most popular sports worldwide: football. The two organisations joined forces to address humanitarian issues such as discrimination, gender inequality, social exclusion, and violence by harnessing the critical and unifying power of Humanitarian Education and Sport for Development. The IFRC’s Youth as Agents of Behavioral Change (YABC) and GA’s Football for Development methodologies were combined, integrated, reassessed, and components purposively selected to co-create a hybrid curriculum. At the core of this curriculum is a critical pedagogy to empower young people and through them their local communities. 

The project was piloted in four countries with different contexts and challenges: working with Red Cross Red Crescent NS and their local branches in Argentina, Iraq, Myanmar and Uganda. The project unfolds in three phases: Training of Youth Facilitators, Hybrid Curriculum, and community-based youth-led Micro-Projects, which were all further adapted into bespoke timetables and approaches according to the contextual needs in each community.

A close-up of a blue background

Description automatically generated

A multi-layered participatory approach was taken - at the global, national, and local levels. Partnerships were forged globally, with IFRC and GA collaborating with NS to contextualize the project and define its scope, engaging communities through a Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), approach. For example: 

At the Global, Regional and National levels, IFRC and GA collaborated with NS to tailor the project, define its scope, and establish a theory of change at the country level. NS played a crucial role, overseeing implementation, ensuring a localised approach, and institutionalising project ownership. This involved co-developing proposals and implementation plans based on community needs assessments, meetings and dialogues with community members, and engaging local branches to collaborate with stakeholders and identify where, when and how the project should be implemented. 

At the Local level: NS branches worked with communities to foster genuine participatory community engagement throughout the entire project, for example, in Uganda, NS ensured the participation of Somali girls in the Hybrid Curriculum by engaging the United Somali Community Leadership and youth in dialogues and consultation on how they could participate in football while still wearing their cultural and religious dress. Community members, community leaders, volunteers and youth participants were involved in co-creation and in the development and implementation of the Micro-Projects. For example in Phalaung and Thetkalchin villages in Myanmar, children, parents, and elderly community members eagerly contributed to the refurbishment of the village library and fencing of the communal school. 

At the participant level, volunteering and youth development were integral elements of the project. Youth volunteers from the communities, were trained as facilitators and engaged in the entire project cycle, fostering a robust model of youth engagement. The Micro-Project phase embraced a participatory approach through the provision of micro-grants, involving young people in all stages, from identifying community needs to designing, implementing and evaluating their projects, empowering them to drive positive change.

In line with the programme’s engagement strategy the joint project is rooted in a bottom-up, participatory approach. As noted by Easterly (2008), this involves a shift from top-down institutional views to a focus on grassroots, locally-driven change. The joint programmatic elements, constructed through comprehensive needs assessments, reflect this philosophy. This approach is crucial in avoiding the pitfalls of neo-colonialism in international aid, as critiqued by Wood (2021). By engaging directly with local stakeholders and valuing their insights, Generation Amazing and the IFRC combat the ineffective top-down methodologies that have historically dominated development efforts.

This approach to development is further illuminated with an emphasis on aligning activities with both the needs assessment and the capabilities of partner organizations. Lilyblad (2019) reinforces this by highlighting the transformative potential of NGOs when they catalyse change from the bottom-up, giving marginalised communities a voice. This methodology aligns with both parties and their commitment to fostering local engagement and ensuring that development efforts resonate with the specific cultural, social, and economic contexts of the communities they serve.

Amplifying Impact through Participation

The project's success can be attributed to a flexible, adaptable implementation model and a participatory approach that engages participants and partners in the design and implementation process. The tailored approach, driven by specific community needs, increased engagement resulting in a successful and impactful p intervention. By involving communities and partners in the design process they provide valuable insights into their needs and priorities, as well as the challenges and opportunities that exist in their communities, helping to build ownership and support, leading to more effective outcomes.

The positive impacts documented at individual, community, and organisational levels, underscores the value of youth-led and co-created community-based projects, and the hunger of youth leadership and engagement “right now”. As the project highlighted so many unique stories of youth leadership and strength, it solidifies the collective purpose to carry on the ambition to continue to invest participatory approaches through the critical and unifying role, transformative power of Humanitarian Education and sport in engaging young people as agents of change supporting and opening more doors for youth to write new narratives that change the world for the better - – not someday in the future – but right now.

By adopting a bottom up approach, as articulated by Conteh-Morgan (2005), both parties effectively addresses the socio-economic and cultural nuances within communities. This approach avoids imposing external norms and instead delves into the intersubjective beliefs shaping local institutions. In doing so, Generation Amazing Foundation and the IFRC not only combat inequalities but also respect and incorporate the unique perspectives and needs of each community.

In line with the insights from Makoba (2002), grassroots approaches aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by directly targeting change at the stakeholder level, rather than solely focusing on capacity building from the top down. Lilyblad (2019) further supports this by noting the significant influence NGOs can wield through advocacy, agenda-setting, and knowledge generation, altering policies by viewing the world from a bottom-up perspective.

The 'Uniting Through the Power of Football' project exemplifies the efficacy of a bottom-up, participatory approach in international development. By integrating this methodology, both parties ensure that its initiatives are not only contextually relevant but also empowering for the communities involved. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and aligns with the contemporary view of development as a partnership rather than a donor-recipient dynamic. As a result, the project not only addresses immediate community needs but also lays the groundwork for sustainable, long-term development driven by the very people it aims to uplift. This paradigm shift in development strategy, underpinned by the principles of bottom up development and a deep respect for local contexts, marks a significant step forward in humanitarian efforts, paving the way for more inclusive and effective global development practices.

References

Conteh-Morgan, E. (2005). PEACEBUILDING AND HUMAN SECURITY: A CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVE. International Journal of Peace Studies, 10(1), 69–86. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41852073

Easterly, W. (2008). Institutions: Top down or Bottom up? The American Economic Review, 98(2), 95–99. http://www.jstor.org/stable/29730002

Makoba, J. W. (2002). NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) AND THIRD WORLD DEVELOPMENT: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT. Journal of Third World Studies, 19(1), 53–63. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45194010

Mosse, D. (1993). AUTHORITY, GENDER AND KNOWLEDGE: THEORETICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE PRACTICE OF PARTICIPATORY RURAL APPRAISAL, 44.

Wood, T. (2021) Is aid neo-colonial? Devpolicyblog, Available at: https://devpolicy.org/aid-neocolonial-20210406-2/


About the authors

Dr Amjad Mohamed Saleem is the Manager of Volunteer, Youth and Education Development at IFRC.

Mr Nasser al Khori is the Executive Director at the Generation Amazing Foundation

Authors

Tags

Country
Argentina
Myanmar (Burma)
Uganda
Iraq
Tanzania
Region
Middle East
Latin America and the Caribbean
Africa
Asia
Sport
Football (Soccer)
Sustainable Development Goals
4 – Quality education
Target Group

Youth 



this originally appeared here

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Sexual and gender-based violence in migration contexts: does faith sensitivity matter?

 Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is tragically widespread along migration journeys,  especially when these take place along irregular routes “due to armed conflict-related poverty, insecurity, and distress.” Risks of SGBV – including those related to trafficking and modern slavery – can increase in countries of transit and destination.

In this post, Sandra Pertek, Ahmed Al-Dawoody, and Amjad Saleem highlight the critical importance and role of faith leaders and communities in tackling SGBV, discussing the importance of incorporating faith literacy and sensitivity in SGBV prevention and responses, and calling for an increased engagement of humanitarian actors with faith actors to address SGBV in armed conflict and migration.  


While undisputedly prevalent, the exact numbers of migrants[1] experiencing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are unknown and vary depending on context. Available data confirms that women and girls are disproportionally affected, with the World Health Organization estimating that one in three women and girls will experience SGBV during her lifetime, yet men and boys are also affected by and vulnerable to SGBV, including as a form of torture and in situations of traffickingOne study from the Netherlands and Belgium reported that up to 69.3% of female and 28.6% of male migrants had been subjected to sexual violence after they arrived in Europe.

Some migrants may have already been subjected to sexual and gender-based violence prior to leaving home, as is often the case for those fleeing armed conflict, violence, or other serious harm. For them, the risk or reality of SGBV along the journey can therefore compound the trauma already experienced in their country of origin. Other migrants find themselves stranded in areas experiencing armed conflict or violence, or deprived of liberty for immigration-related reasons, finding themselves at a higher risk of experiencing SGBV.

Gender inequality[2], harmful social norms and practices, and discriminatory views on women or gender roles in society underpin the perpetration of SGBV worldwide. In addition, multiple factors can further increase the risk of SGBV for migrants – from loss of family and social connections, economic deprivation, and social exclusion, to legal protection gaps, mental health issues, and lack of language skills.

Intersecting identity-based inequalities, such as religious or ethnic discrimination, racism, and sexism, can also drive the perpetration of SGBV, and many forms of SGBV are simultaneously sexist and racist. Conflict-related sexual violence may have strategic and tactical motivations, take advantage of the situational and contextual vulnerabilities of migrants (including by aid workers), or it may be tolerated by a culture of impunity.[3]

Religion and humanitarian action: a leap of faith

Faith and religious adherence remain part of the lived experience of many communities around the world. Subsequently, many migrants maintain a religious affiliation. For many, religion (faith and/or spirituality) also remains a part of their migration experience and an important symbol of connection with the past and their places of heritage. With the loss of resources and in under-resourced settings, religion – meaning religious beliefs, traditions, practices, organization and experience, and religious leaders – becomes a resource from which to draw strength and comfort and to find a sense of belonging. Dangerous sea and desert crossings, unimaginable living conditions and near-death experiences can lead to an increase of faith among migrant survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, who find meaning and build resilience in the face of abuse, relying on prayers, religious scriptures and religious rituals.

Religion, therefore, can operate as a protective factor, yet it can also manifest as a risk. Religious discrimination and persecution, or cultural practices and understandings, can contribute to the perpetration and exacerbation of SGBV, especially towards minority groups. Some patriarchal religious interpretations are also misused to centralize power, control resources, and limit women’s participation to impose certain (dis)orders.

Beyond listing the benefits and ill effects, however, one must remember: religion itself does not have agency! It is interpreted and enacted by social actors and intersects with culture, power, access to resources, and politics, to name a few. It is, therefore, important to consider the ways in which humanitarian actors can work with faith-based actors to tackle SGBV that is condoned or indirectly promoted by religious ideas and teachings.

Various organizations already work with religion to address sexual and gender-based violence. One comprehensive framework is “Faith for Rights”, comprised of the 18 commitments adopted in Beirut in 2017 by faith-based actors and human rights experts, and offering a robust tool and peer-to-peer learning methodology for engaging with religious leaders.

Several of the “Faith for Rights” commitments are directly relevant to leveraging religious values in support of international humanitarian law (IHL), human rights, and refugee law, as applicable, including in combating SGBV in migration contexts. As religions are necessarily subject to human interpretations, commitment III pledges “to promote constructive engagement on the understanding of religious texts.” Commitment V very squarely addresses SGBV by pledging to revisit “those religious understandings and interpretations that appear to perpetuate gender inequality and harmful stereotypes or even condone gender-based violence.” This international instrument, arguably soft law, not only quotes general comments by UN treaty bodies[4] but also several religious sources, including two Qur’anic verses.

The related #Faith4Rights toolkit contains renewable sources of practices and knowledge emanating from different religions and regions. For example, Christian and Muslim religious leaders of Cyprus stressed that “[v]iolence against women and girls, in whatever form, is a contradiction to the will of God and unacceptable…We strongly believe that religious leaders don’t only have a responsibility but also a religious duty to stand united against violence in all its forms everywhere, including violence against women and girls.”

Humanitarian actors with limited religious sensitivity and faith literacy and who are disengaged from contextual religious dynamics may be insufficiently equipped to deal with the impacts of monopolized religious interpretations on the perpetration of violence and exploitation of women and marginalized groups. Innovative and faith-sensitive approaches, as well as greater faith literacy, are needed to prevent, respond to, and mitigate SGBV occurrences along migration routes – and to ensure adequate transposition of standards and evidence-backed approaches to supporting survivors.

Working with religion to address SGBV in migration settings

Disregarding the faith of crises-affected communities disrespects the lived experiences of millions of people, denying their agency, representation, thinking, and ultimately their power. Working with religion as a cross-cutting factor – a multiplier of resilience and risks with indirect and direct effects – in SGBV prevention, risk mitigation, and response can be useful at multiple levels. Faith communities (groups of congregational members affiliated with a certain religion, including institutions and leaders) are often key players in humanitarian action who are well-equipped with local knowledge to address specific community problems. Faith actors, including faith communities and faith-based organizations, have traditionally demonstrated that small initiatives that respond to local needs and build local partnerships can contribute to global changes.

A faith-sensitive approach in migration contexts could mean deploying religious resources to support migrants in their trajectories. For example, faith communities can play an important role by helping to connect migrants to trusted local faith communities to access support along migration routes. They can compensate for the social disconnections and loss of social networks that migration often creates. Faith-based groups can also be present across migratory routes to ease the lengthy and dangerous journeys, providing immediate assistance and emotional support, as does the inter-faith network A World of Neighbours. Faith communities also play an essential role in helping migrants integrate into local communities by finding community support in new environments. They enable migrants to develop social connections and practical support to settle down and rebuild their lives.

It is important to note, however, that faith communities are not a panacea – they can also be the root of misunderstandings, disagreements, or different interpretations of religious and humanitarian principles. Many faith communities, regardless of their size, have a history of strife and struggle, on one hand, and of cooperation and collaboration on the other.

It is against this backdrop that we ask questions such as: how can personal and communal religious resources – beliefs, practices, experience, and organization – be leveraged in tackling SGBV along the migration journey? Can humanitarian workers engage with religious teachings and motivations of faith-based actors to mobilize the protection of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence? What is the role of religious leaders in SGBV prevention and response in humanitarian crises, and how they can better engage with humanitarian stakeholders?

Towards understanding and addressing SGBV in Muslim contexts

When dealing with faith actors, among others, all sources of influence, be it religious teachings, cultural norms, local beliefs, and traditions, must be utilized to mobilize protection against SGBV. Even when monopolized religious interpretations are used to justify the perpetration of sexual violence and exploitation of women, it is still important to engage in dialogue on such interpretations to enable clarify and better understanding of the causes of violence and develop protection, response, and prevention mechanisms relevant to the local context.

For example, as a significant number of armed conflicts are taking place today in Muslim-majority countries, and that Islamic law plays a vital role in the daily lives of hundreds of millions of Muslims globally, the influence of Islamic law cannot be ignored in developing SGBV protection and prevention approaches in Muslim settings.

International humanitarian law strictly prohibits sexual violence, both in IHL treaty norms[5] and customary law[6]. Similarly, under Islamic law, rape and other acts of sexual violence accompanied by the use of force falls under the crime of ḥirābah (terrorism).[7] The twelfth-century Andalusian Mālikī judge Abu Bakr ibn al-‛Arabī (d. 1148) relates that he punished a group of highway robbers who abducted a woman and raped her. This strict Islamic legalistic approach prohibiting SGBV may one, enhance acceptance, respect, and universalization of relevant international legal frameworks; two, serve as a severe deterrence in relevant contexts; and three, provide a local accountability framework when relevant international legal frameworks are rejected by certain non-state armed groups.

A faith-sensitive approach is also necessary to accommodate any religious needs of survivors of SGBV, to deal with treatment and referrals, and to mitigate psychological, physical, and social trauma. Many people resort to their faith, religious leaders, and places of worship to protect and empower themselves in times of painful and traumatic experiences. Islamic institutions and Islamic religious leaders are no exception here and can be more involved in developing SGBV responses in Muslim contexts to support the healing of survivors.

However, working with SGBV survivors requires personnel trained in SGBV, in addition to more general psychosocial support qualifications. Sadly, many religious leaders are not trained to handle the specific needs of a person following an incident of SGBV. Religious leaders and scholars specifically trained to handle SGBV cases, especially women, along with the more secular practitioners of psychosocial support and case workers, should be collectively included in developing SGBV responses, not only because of their influence on their communities, their awareness, and sensitivity of the issue but also because their role can be irreplaceable to ensure a gender and trauma-sensitive response, including medical, psychosocial and psychological care and support.

Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh argues that “Muslim women particularly have often been overlooked as agents of change by international organizations because they do not appear to conform to a Western notion of empowered women when they wear the hijab or niqab.” Yet, there is a range of religio-cultural assets that are a lifeline for Muslim survivors in crises, through which women ground their agency and belonging. For example, women’s communities and faith groups (e.g. halaqa) are important allies in working with women survivors to raise their self-esteem and awareness of their religious socio-economic rights, including protection and empowerment, as enshrined in the religious teachings. Survivors can also benefit from spending time with other people in similar situations, to share their concerns and offer mutual emotional and practical support. Exchanging stories and viewpoints in peer groups can foster healing, too.

In other words, a trauma-informed response should necessarily include a diversity of expertise, including religious leaders who are well-equipped and trained to provide a survivor-centered response. Religious leaders working with SGBV survivors should be also informed about any unintended negative consequences that mandatory reporting might entail, and guided to ensure a survivor-centered approach is followed throughout their interactions.

In particular, it is important that any stigma – including that towards men, boys, and minority groups might face when disclosing and seeking support – is adequately addressed by religious leaders in their faith communities. Similarly, humanitarian, development, and peace-building actors focusing on SGBV could consider how to work with men and boys by drawing on their religious resources (for example ideas of human dignity and practices such as honouring women) in a group setup to promote healthy masculinities and family power dynamics.

There are opportunities for creative engagement with men and boys in humanitarian settings, from meaningful consultations to mobilizing commitments, for example, tackling topics suggested by men directly as entry points, talking about men’s sexual health, stigma awareness workshops, and creating networks to assist with referral pathways.[8] For instance, religious institutions and religious leaders can be involved in developing anti-SGBV communication messages and dissemination methods through religious congregations, such as during religious sermons and informal gatherings, as well as published material by influential religious leaders. Faith leaders, often enjoying authority, trust, and access in their communities,[9] can also help to translate and understand the humanitarian principles through a language of faith to tackle sensitive issues, such as SGBV. They may sometimes be the primary entry point for disclosure and for guidance and referral for survivors of sexual violence. Places of worship can also be supported with capacity building to become safe places for survivors of SGBV across settings.

Certain interpretations of religious principles enshrined in domestic law pose barriers to survivors of sexual violence seeking access to justice or care. In such cases, religious leaders and states should consider how these laws can be reformed to better support – and reduce the stigmatization of – survivors of sexual violence. International law and standards should be referenced to guide this process.

Therefore, humanitarian actors should engage more with faith-based actors, to raise the religious literacy of the former whilst improving the understanding of the latter around humanitarian action and principles. This has been a rallying call from the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and the work done by organizations such as the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities, to strengthen the engagement of faith actors in the achievement of humanitarian goals. Similarly, UN Security Council 2467 (2019), in operative paragraph 16(c), highlights the importance of engaging with religious and traditional leaders to advocate against sexual violence in armed conflict and support the reintegration of survivors and their families.[10]

By increasing this engagement and mutual understanding, there is an opportunity to raise the awareness of religious actors to the reality of SGBV in their contexts and the vulnerability factors to SGBV in order to tailor communication messages, training and expert workshops as well as dissemination methods that are context-specific and more impactful.[11] Both state-affiliated and independent religious institutions and individuals have huge outreach and influence through their traditional and modern channels of communication. The traumatic experiences of SGBV necessitate a multidisciplinary, innovative, context-specific, and gender- and faith-sensitive protection and prevention response. Hence, the particularities of the very single case and situation of SGBV must be addressed accordingly. Inadequate, simplified, and romanticized responses do not contribute to tackling the continuum of SGBV along migratory routes, from countries of origin through countries of transit to countries of destination.

Seeking solutions to SGBV: Islamic philanthropy

In addition to drawing support from religious texts, Islamic social financing can be a useful tool for working with survivors of SGBV. Throughout Islamic history, the three main Islamic financial instruments – zakat (compulsory alms giving), ṣadaqah (optional charity) and waqf (endowments, trusts) – have contributed considerably to meeting individual and community needs. These instruments have focused on alleviating poverty and suffering of beneficiaries and meeting mainly, but not exclusively, the humanitarian social, educational and medical needs of the community. Moreover, they aim to empower the beneficiaries.

Although these Islamic financial instruments have “the potential to ease the suffering of [hundreds of] millions around the world,” their use “in the non-faith-based humanitarian sector is a relatively new issue for both international organizations and Muslim jurists.” A 2016 report by the Global Humanitarian Assistance Program explored the role of Islamic social finance, especially zakat, in humanitarian funding. Here, what matters is not the amount of money to be collected, but what is done with it. There is an increasing realization that there is a lack of understanding as to how to apply the various instruments of Islamic social financing.

For example, zakat has eight categories of recipients, which have not yet been properly examined, to understand supporting non-Muslims. Among these are the levying of administration costs for the collection of zakat, vital infrastructure projects, peacebuilding, and initiatives combatting human trafficking. All of these remain grossly underfunded and unexplored by zakat.

It is worth referring here to the UNHCR’s “Refugee Zakat Fund”, whereby at the time of writing 14,030 people had donated their zakat in 2023 and 4,557 refugee and internally displaced families had been reached in 2023. Such innovative platforms mainly facilitate the provision of much-needed funds and services to those who need them.

It is not possible to assess exactly the amount of the annual spending of zakat. However, its annual potential size was estimated “between 200 billion and one trillion US dollars, according to Obaidullah and Shirazi in 2015 and the World Bank and IDBG in 2016.” Therefore, zakatṣadaqah, and waqf can all make a considerable contribution to supporting the specific needs of survivors of SGBV and the financial needs necessary to develop short- and long-term SGBV protection and prevention responses in Muslim migration contexts. More work needs to be done around developing standards around the financing of protection and prevention responses.

Conclusion

We need to rethink how to engage with faith leaders and institutions in SGBV prevention and response along the migration trajectory. Secular actors should not dismiss the fact that faith is often a lived experience of migrants and can become a source of comfort during times of trauma. We also need improved literacy and sensitivity on addressing misinterpretations of religious perspectives. SGBV and other human rights violations in the name of religion highlight the importance of humanitarian actors engaging with religious leaders using a ‘Faith for Rights’ approach and toolkit, and religious leaders can benefit from the same toolkit to leverage their moral weight in the service of humanitarian values.

From a religious perspective, we need to unite religious and secular scholars to develop a protection framework that incorporates religion as both a challenge and a solution. In addition, there is a need to better understand the role of Islamic social financing, and how it can set in place new norms for the protection of people facing humanitarian challenges.

These are the necessary steps towards, inter alia, fulfilling Strategic Objective 3 of the ICRC Strategy on Sexual Violence 2018-2022 which “aim[s] to influence actors at national, regional and international level to create a legal and policy environment, in which sexual violence is absolutely prohibited (and not tolerated), and to ensure that victims’/survivors’ dignity and needs are at the center, with their agency recognized and respected.”

[1] This post uses the broad description of migrants adopted by the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), which, for the purpose of the Movement’s humanitarian response, considers as migrants all persons who leave or flee their country of origin or habitual residence to seek safety or better prospects abroad, and who may be in distress and need protection or humanitarian assistance. This includes migrant workers, migrants deemed irregular by public authorities, people displaced across international borders by armed conflict or violence, but also refugees and asylum-seekers, who are entitled to specific legal protection under international law. This inclusive description, focused on needs and vulnerabilities, reflects the Movement’s operational practice and emphasizes that all migrants are protected under several bodies of law.

[2] Gender inequality as a root cause is identified for example in UN Security Council Resolution 2467 (2019): “…exacerbated by discrimination against women and girls and by the under-representation of women in decision-making and leadership roles, the impact of discriminatory laws, the gender biased enforcement and application of existing laws, harmful social norms and practices, structural inequalities, and discriminatory views on women or gender roles in society”.

[3] Elisabeth Jean Wood identified three broad categories of motivations for conflict-related sexual violence: 1) strategic (carried out to achieve the organization’s objectives), 2) opportunistic (for private reasons), and 3) tolerated practice (because of culture of impunity or lack of willingness to tackle it for a number of reasons. See Elisabeth Jean Wood, “Conflict-related sexual violence and the policy implications of recent research,” International Review of the Red Cross, (2014), 96 (894), pp. 470-474. https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/irrc-894-wood.pdf

[4] Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on harmful practices, CEDAW/C/GC/31-CRC/C/GC/18, para. 70.

[5] For example and among others, via Article 3 common the Geneva Conventions, as well as Art. 12, GC I, Art. 12, GC 11, Arts 13 and 14, GC III, Art. 27(2), GC IV, Art. 75(2)(b), AP I, Art. 76(1), AP I, Art. 77(1).

[6] Rule 93 of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s study on customary IHL.

[7] Ahmed Al-Dawoody, The Islamic Law of War: Justifications and Regulations (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), p. 274.

[8] ICRC (2022) Male Perceptions of Sexual Violence in South Sudan and the Central African Republic https://shop.icrc.org/male-perceptions-of-sexual-violence-in-south-sudan-and-the-central-african-republic-pdf-en.html

[9] See, for example, https://shop.icrc.org/male-perceptions-of-sexual-violence-in-south-sudan-and-the-central-african-republic-print-en.html

[10] UN Security Council 2467 (2019), operative paragraph 16. c, states: “Encourages leaders at the national and local level, including community, religious and traditional leaders, as appropriate and where they exist, to play a more active role in advocating within communities against sexual violence in conflict to avoid marginalization and stigmatization of survivors and their families, as well as, to assist with their social and economic reintegration and that of their children, and to address impunity for these crimes.“

[11] See, for example: EC (2021) Engaging with Religious Actors on Gender Inequality and Gender-based Violence. Compilation of Practices. https://www.abaadmena.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/ebook.1636550388.pdf.


this originally appeared here

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Reimagining Volunteering needs a decolonisation lens – what we should be cautious of

 Few will disagree that the concept of ‘volunteering’, doing something of service for

someone else, is part of the DNA and fabric of local communities, highlighting the best that

can be achieved when people come together to serve. Over the existence of human society,

we have seen the tremendous good that has come about when people of their own volition

have come together, often at times of tragedy but also other times, to serve those in need,

family and friends. Within every local faith and cultural tradition there is something that

describes this action and concept that is a reminder of that human fraternity. Volunteering

is very much active and present on a global, regional, national and local level.

Whilst there is much to celebrate in how volunteering is still an integral part of

communities, we still need to interrogate how volunteering is represented and discussed

and whether current discussions really consider, local realities, agency, ownership and

integration.

Volunteering as a concept, argument, terminology and process, in how it is understood and

discussed currently is a hangover of colonialism, shaped exclusively by Western / Christian

values, visible in power relationships, of the ‘missionaries’, often coming from privileged

places in their societies in the Global North, seeking to change the social, political and

economic structures of countries in the Global South with little input from affected

communities, the original ‘White Saviour’ moment. Initially, as the history of many social

movements show, volunteers were female, using their ‘free’ time as housewives to keep

themselves busy. Thus, many of the volunteering organisations and movements were led

by privileged women of society and volunteering remains disproportionately female.

Whilst other grandchildren of the colonisation, the development, and humanitarian sectors,

have started having conversations around decolonisation, the volunteering sector still

seems to be far removed from these conversations. This is a missed opportunity because

volunteering lies at the heart of community cohesion and engagement, either fed through

faith traditions or cultural values.

Yet in having a decolonised discussion on volunteering, we need to be prepared for some

hard truths.

Decolonising the volunteering narrative, must be bold to include a discussion around

disrupting the system or getting rid of the system altogther. A decolonisation discussion on

volunteering must consider that those from former colonised states, might want

decolonisation to deal with their own lived experience of oppression, injustice and

corruption brought about by their own current political and feudal elite let along dealing

with the colonial legacy. Decolonised discussions on volunteering need to crucially address

power imbalances today, inequity and inequality whilst discussing dignity, agency and

power. If we are discussing decolonisation of volunteering in the 21st century, we have to

address why it is still volunteers (largely white) coming out to countries with brown and

black subjects and ‘doing good’ and helping them, yet, very rarely is this reversed. Very


rarely is it acknowledged that people who volunteer are those who can afford to and that

the vast majority of people in the world, whilst having an intention to do something for free,

are unable to because their reality is that they need to put food on the table. Very rarely do

we in the volunteering sector discuss the real issues of the role of ‘volunteers’ from the

West / Global North, in geopolitics, military warfare, oil, illegal occupation, genocide, etc.

So a decolonisation discussion on volunteering whilst being cognisant of the past can not

simply ignore the current colonial or injustices that are taking place in the world today

Decolonisation of volunteering is about looking at the change in the whole system in place

that the sector subscribes to, describes, lives in and works with, which  are oppressive to

people who are Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour (BIPOC) and from what is called the

Global South, itself a disputed term. We need to have openand honest conversations with

a diverse range of actors, democratising the space for people to share ideas. We need to be

prepared to have our ideas, definitions, business models challenged, critiqued and even

changed. A discussion on the decolonisation of volunteering means that we need to provide

a seat at the table for everyone to be able to share their ideas, to understand how different

people from different parts of the world approach the conversation of volunteering,

decolonization which can be difficult for many in terms of language and understanding

We must also understand that Colonialism is a fact. We can’t repair the past nor allow it to

become a ball and chain for the future, and so we need to look at the inherent

contradictions and complexities of the volunteering project to see our own humility and

shine a lens on our own project. In the last three years, when the world was shut down, and

the lockdowns and restrictions of movement exposed the fallacies of the current system

and the unsustainability of the current volunteering, we were provided a blueprint for true

local, decolonised volunteer action where locals had agency and power to act according to

their local challenges.

Decolonising volunteering needs to think about an equity-based understanding of

volunteering action which means understanding that manifestations of oppression are

rooted in power hierarchies that often do not operate alone. They intersect with gender,

religion, socio-economic status, geography, sexual orientation, and numerous other social

markers, creating layers of oppression that are inextricably intertwined. Thus, addressing

one facet of inequity is not enough. Effective volunteering action requires a local

understanding and approach which is intersectional and operationally rooted, that provides

agency, enables representation and address power dynamics.

The concept of volunteering has evolved and changed happening in difficult conditions that

are difficult to measure; that are as informal as they are formal, thereby making it difficult

to integrate and as spontaneous as they are organized, making ownership difficult to

attribute. We need to recognise these are all vital components of a wide spectrum of

volunteering that has to be decolonised, redefined reimagined and rethought for the 21 st

century.

We need to do better; we need to be better, not because it is the good thing to do, but the

right thing to do.


This orignally appeared here