Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations

The document argues that existing gender mainstreaming guidelines for mine action, such as those from UNMAS, are primarily designed for stable post-conflict settings and fail to address the dynamics of active conflict. It examines how conflict-specific risks—such as gendered reprisals from insurgents, changes in the division of labor, and barriers to healthcare—impact mine clearance, mine risk education (MRE), and victim assistance. Using Colombia as a case study, the authors emphasize that mine action must be integrated with broader conflict-relief efforts and based on a gender-sensitive analysis of local security risks to avoid endangering the populations it intends to help.

• Existing gender mainstreaming guidelines for mine action are largely designed for post-conflict stability and do not adequately address the unique challenges of active conflict zones.
• In conflict zones, mine clearance can be perceived as an act of aggression, and local populations may fear gender-specific sanctions from insurgent groups if they cooperate with demining efforts. In Colombia, for example, populations feared punishment from guerilla groups for cooperating with the national army.
• Mine Risk Education (MRE) must account for how conflict alters the gendered division of labor and spatial movement, which in turn changes exposure to mines. For instance, if men are involved in combat, women may temporarily become heads of households, altering their risk patterns.
• Effective MRE requires gender-specific logistical planning regarding the timing and venue of sessions, as well as an assessment of whether mixed-gender sessions are culturally appropriate or would impact the legitimacy of the program.
• Victim assistance in conflict situations faces gendered barriers, including the risk that injuries are interpreted as signs of participation in armed struggle, which may prevent individuals from seeking help. Additionally, women in female-headed households may face increased insecurity and reduced access to healthcare due to cultural constraints or the volatility of the conflict.

APA

Wallacher, H., & Kjellman, K. E. (2008). Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e9e346d2-7057-4b41-9e3e-1422f5148974/Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations Policy Brief 10 2008.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Wallacher, Hilde, and Kjell Erling Kjellman. Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2008. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e9e346d2-7057-4b41-9e3e-1422f5148974/Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations Policy Brief 10 2008.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wallacher |first1=Hilde |last2=Kjellman |first2=Kjell Erling |title=Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=October 2008 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e9e346d2-7057-4b41-9e3e-1422f5148974/Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations Policy Brief 10 2008.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wallacher2008gender, author = {Wallacher, Hilde and Kjellman, Kjell Erling}, title = {{Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e9e346d2-7057-4b41-9e3e-1422f5148974/Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations Policy Brief 10 2008.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }