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Article: The gendered dimensions of conflict's aftermath: a victim-centered approach to compensation.
- Article from:
- Ethics & International Affairs
- Article date:
- June 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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There is a Somali proverb, "The stains of blood should be cleansed with a fertile virgin woman." Though it may have an archaic ring to modern ears, the saying reminds those who study conflict of traditional methods of forging alliances and merging fiefdoms, for example, through marriage. The exchange of women, often to seal peace settlements, represents trust between clans that will each be responsible for these women, who will in turn perform a reproductive role to replace lives lost in the conflict. (1) Yet this "archaic" proverb was quoted in 1996, and in the context of a very recent conflict. It serves to illuminate the fact that although the resolution of conflicts ...