Women’s participation in transitional justice mechanisms: Comparing transitional processes in Timor Leste and Sierra Leone.

Source: (2010) Thesis for Master of Arts. University of Denver.

Women tend to suffer a disproportionate amount of sexual and reproductive
violence during periods of conflict, though they generally participate at a lower rate than
men in transitional justice processes. Because participation is discussed in procedural
justice literature as being crucial to securing feelings of justice and dignity within victims
of violence, the lack of women’s participation in transitional process indicates that justice
outcomes could suffer without equitable participation of women. In light of this issue,
this study uses a comparative case study analysis method to investigate women’s
involvement in the transitional justice processes in Timor Leste and Sierra Leone to
uncover conclusions that can be used to understand women’s participation in other
transitional societies and thus encourage equal participation of women to enhance justice
outcomes. This study indicates that the two main factors that influence women’s
participation are the extent to which women or women’s issues were included in the
original transitional justice process mandates and the way in which women are viewed in
the transitional society. Furthermore, it can be seen that women are included in
transitional processes in mechanism mandates or as decision-makers and/or testimony givers/participants. Women are excluded from transitional processes because they either
exclude themselves or are overtly excluded by justice systems. (author’s abstract)