ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates gender mainstreaming provision in Liberia by examining both top-down and bottom-up level indicators of the gender dimensions of the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) program and considers the gender sensitivity of the planning, design, coordination and implementation of the program. Njoki Wamai comments that with regards to gender mainstreaming Liberia was particularly interesting for a number of reasons. The chapter also explores the impact of the DDRR process on the women’s lives today and assesses the benefits of their reintegration activities through an examination of social, psychological and economic factors. It considers if gender mainstreaming addresses broader structural issues of inequality such as sexual and gender-based violence and proposes how this can be tackled through disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) initiatives. Gender mainstreaming subsequently developed momentum and there have been numerous policy revisions and guidelines written by various UN departments and other international organizations on the inclusion of women in DDR.
