ABSTRACT
This chapter claims that “security equality,” where different groups are equally protected from threats, is central for quality peace. Quality peace must encompass the notion of equal protection of men and women from the security threats that affect them respectively. This chapter contributes to the debate on quality peace by using the concept of security equality from a gender perspective. As peace is being established, it cannot be assumed that all groups in a society receive equal protection from threats. The author employs developments in Timor-Leste from 1975 to 2006 as an empirical illustration of how men and women are affected by violence and how protection as established by international actors can be unequally distributed. Research and practice have demonstrated that the problems and opportunities identified in Timor-Leste are not unique. Similar trends have appeared in many countries with peace operations, and in these countries, the behavior of the warring parties, the state, and the peace operations have had direct but different implications for men’s and women’s security. In discussing future research and policy implementation, the author first argues for further study on distributing protection and how unequal protection should be considered in relation to quality peace. Second, analysts and practitioners must develop their understanding of what makes men and women vulnerable to physical violence in general and how armed conflict plays into such a dynamic more specifically. Third, methods to collect gender-disaggregated data on armed conflict are central for improved research on the different situations for men and women during armed conflict and conflict resolution. Finally, the author raises the question of when it comes to domestic violence and abuse, how much violence can be practiced in a society before it is considered as affecting quality peace?
