Roxani Krystalli gave a lecture titled “Demilitarizing Masculinities and Femininities: Reintegration of Former Combatants in Colombia” at the Consortium on Gender, Security, and Human Rights. Roxani emphasized the need to understand the gendered underpinnings of why different individuals may choose to join armed groups, as well as their gendered experiences within these armed groups, because these issues affect the incentives to demobilize. Reintegration programs also need to take into account the ways in which gender roles shift and are renegotiated during armed conflict, both within armed groups and in civil society. Roxani presented her research with ex-combatants in Colombia and also offered her perspective on how gender analysis may shape the ongoing peace process.

Photo credit: Maria Jose Lombera