Table Of ContentPoliticization of Sexual Violence
From Abolitionism to Peacekeeping
Carol Harrington
Politicization of Sexual Violence
Gender in a Global/local World
Series editors: Jane Parpart, Pauline Gardiner Barber
and Marianne H. Marchand
Gender in a Global/Local World critically explores the uneven and often
contradictory ways in which global processes and local identities come together.
Much has been and is being written about globalization and responses to it but
rarely from a critical, historical, gendered perspective. Yet, these processes are
profoundly gendered albeit in different ways in particular contexts and times.
the changes in social, cultural, economic and political institutions and practices
alter the conditions under which women and men make and remake their lives.
new spaces have been created – economic, political, social – and previously
silent voices are being heard. north-South dichotomies are being undermined
as increasing numbers of people and communities are exposed to international
processes through migration, travel and communication, even as marginalization
and poverty intensify for many in all parts of the world. the series features
monographs and collections which explore the tensions in a ‘global/local world’,
and includes contributions from all disciplines in recognition that no single
approach can capture these complex processes.
Forthcoming titles in this series
Contours of Citizenship
Women, Diversity and Practices of Citizenship
edited by Margaret abraham, esther ngan-ling chow,
laura Maratou-alipranti and evangelia tastsoglou
iSBn 978-0-7546-7779-6
Federalism, Feminism and Multilevel Governance
edited by Melissa Haussman, Marian Sawer and Jill Vickers
iSBn 978-0-7546-7717-8
Previous titles are also listed at the back of the book
Politicization of Sexual Violence
from abolitionism to Peacekeeping
carol HarrinGton
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
© carol Harrington 2010
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
carol Harrington has asserted her right under the copyright, Designs and Patents act, 1988,
to be identified as the author of this work.
Published by
ashgate Publishing limited ashgate Publishing company
Wey court east Suite 420
union road 101 cherry Street
farnham Burlington
Surrey, Gu9 7Pt Vt 05401-4405
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www.ashgate.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Harrington, carol, 1965-
Politicization of sexual violence : from abolitionism to
peacekeeping. -- (Gender in a global/local world)
1. rape victims--legal status, laws, etc.--History.
2. anti-rape movement. 3. third-wave feminism. 4. Women--
crimes against--Prevention--international cooperation.
5. Women and the security sector--History.
i. title ii. Series
362.8'83-dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Harrington, carol.
Politicization of sexual violence: from abolitionism to peacekeeping / by
carol Harrington.
p. cm. -- (Gender in a global/local world)
includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBn 978-0-7546-7458-0 (hardback) -- iSBn 978-1-4094-0193-3 (ebook)
1. rape--Political aspects. 2. Sex crimes--Political aspects. 3. rape--Prevention.
4. Sex crimes--Prevention. 5. international cooperation. i. title.
HV6558.H37 2009
362.883--dc22
2009038691
iSBn 9780754674580 (hbk)
iSBn 9781409401933 (ebk.III)
contents
List of Abbreviations vii
Acknowledgements ix
Series Editors’ Preface xi
introduction 1
1 Documenting Sexual Violence as a Problem of individual freedom 11
2 unspeakable outrages and expertise on Women’s Problems 31
3 atrocity Propaganda, international organizations and the Science
of Peace 51
4 Silence on Sexual Violence? World War ii and the united nations
Women’s Bureaucracy 73
5 Pathologizing unfreedom: Western cold War Models
of Human rights and Public Mental Health 97
6 the Medicalization of Peacekeeping and Government of Sexual
and Gender-based Violence 121
7 Gender experts and Gender Police: Policing the Peacekeepers
and empowering Women? 145
8 Knowledge and techniques for Governing Sexual exploitation
and abuse (Sea) 169
conclusion 195
Bibliography 199
Index 227
Dedicated to Frances Ryman for insisting that I go to university.
list of abbreviations
CATW Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
ciD criminal investigation Division (uS army)
cSce commission on Security and cooperation in europe
DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
DoD Department of Defense (uS)
ecoSoc economic and Social council of the united nations
iaW international alliance of Women (formerly iWSa)
icW international council of Women
icrc international committee of the red cross and red crescent
Societies
ictr international criminal tribunal for rwanda
ictY international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
icWPP international committee of Women for Permanent Peace
ioM international organization for Migration
iStSS international Society for traumatic Stress Studies
iWSa international Women’s Suffrage alliance
MSf Médecins Sans frontières
nato north atlantic treaty organization
nGo non Governmental organization (including international nGos)
noW national organization of Women
OIOS Office of Internal Oversight Services
OHCHR Office of the High Commission for Human Rights
oSce organization for Social and economic cooperation in europe
PKo Peacekeeping operation
PSo Peace Support operation
PtSD Post traumatic Stress Disorder
Sea Sexual exploitation and abuse
SGBV Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
SORO Special Operations Research Office
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
organization
unHcr united nations High commission for refugees
unicef united nations children’s fund
unifeM united nations Development fund for Women
unMiBH united nations Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina
unMiK united nations Mission in Kosovo
uSaiD united States agency for international Development
viii Politicization of Sexual Violence
VoT Victim of Trafficking
WiDf Women’s international Democratic federation
WHo World Health organization
acknowledgements
i began research for this book, although i did not know it at the time, while
working on a paper entitled “Feminism and Reflexivity” for the 2002 Critical
Sociology conference in tbilisi, Georgia. thanks to ayman Salem for his energy
and initiative in organizing this conference and inviting me to give the keynote
address. i developed most of this text at the central european university and
would like to thank my colleagues in the Political Science Department for their
encouragement and support. i am especially grateful for the academic leadership
of the program heads during my time at CEU, János Kis, Nenad Dimitrijević,
Gábor tóka and Dorothee Bohle. My ceu reading group colleagues, erin Jenne,
nitsan chorev, Sonja amadae, elissa Helms and Karl Hall provided astute and
patient feedback on my early efforts and draft book proposals. thanks also to
Michael Merlingen for discussing the project with me and alerting me to Vanessa
Pupavac’s work.
i am grateful to the organizers of the History of Human rights Workshop
hosted by the center for the Study of History and Memory and the Department of
History, indiana university, Bloomington, in March 2006. this workshop alerted
me to the important work of Kenneth cmiel, as well as for the opportunity to
have focused discussion with scholars from a range of disciplines who shared my
academic interest in the history of human rights. thanks to all the participants, i
am particularly grateful to rosemary foot for recommending Stephanie Kuttner’s
unpublished thesis after discussing my research with me.
i completed this text while teaching at Victoria university of Wellington, new
zealand, where Deborah Jones, Jo Smith and teresia teaiwa kindly invited me to
join their writing group and offered astute advice on polishing the final draft.
finally thanks most of all to my dear partner and colleague, alexander Maxwell,
who read and provided detailed criticism of innumerable drafts. alexander’s
knowledge of history and languages has left its mark on every chapter of this
book.
