Women, Art and Post-Conflict Justice

• Published in: International criminal law review Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 543 - 560
• Main Author: Mani, Rama
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Netherlands Martinus Nijhoff 01-01-2011; Koninklijke Brill NV
• Subjects: Aesthetics; CREATIVE AGENCY; Criminal law; CULTURE; Females; Gender; Interest Groups; International Conflict; Justice; Mass Media; SOUTHERN FEMININE AESTHETICS; TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE (TJ); Victims; Violations; WOMEN
• ISSN: 1567-536X; 1571-8123
• DOI: 10.1163/157181211X576410

This article addresses the creative agency of women within the context of post-conflict or transitional justice (TJ). Specifically it seeks to underscore the diverse ways in which women in societies emerging from violent conflict and its attendant gender-based violations and atrocities use art and creative media to pursue the objectives of justice. The aims of this article are twofold: first, this article draws attention to the need for local stakeholders in war-affected communities and their international supporters to go beyond official mechanisms of transitional justice; to integrate cultural justice by recognising and encouraging aesthetic and creative means of pursuing justice after violent transitions, and women's particular capacities in this domain. Second, alongside the drive to treat women as more than victims by recognising their political agency in shaping peace and justice, this article draws attention to the need to recognise the creative agency of women and its valuable albeit intangible benefits for TJ and peacebuilding. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]