Two awards spearheaded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian federal town corporation, are funding research to understand the present-day challenges of women survivors of wartime sexual violence in Liberia and the dynamics of survivor inclusion in transitional justice processes in Nigeria’s North East zone.

The research is made possible through the Women, Peace and Security Awards program supported by IDRC and Global Affairs Canada. These annual awards aim to strengthen the implementation of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Launched in 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of this resolution, the awards program supports excellence in research and recognizes civil society leadership to advance the WPS agenda.

Amelia M. Cooper and Heather Tasker are examining the ongoing complexities of conflict-related sexual violence in post-conflict Liberia. The researchers bring their extensive expertise to implement a survivor-centred approach. They will hold workshops and focus-group discussions with survivors to understand their experiences, needs and priorities. Together, they will explore how women survivors of wartime gender violence perceive their situation in the post-conflict era and identify opportunities for building a positive peace.

Lawan Gana Balami and Chika Maduakolam are studying the participation of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in transitional justice and peacebuilding processes in the North East zone of Nigeria. Balami and Maduakolam are surveying and interviewing displaced women survivors of sexual violence who are over 18 years of age and live in camps for displaced persons or host communities in Borno state, as well as the leaders of survivor networks. The research will identify the social, cultural and economic factors that enable or hinder survivors and their networks from taking on leadership roles in transitional justice and assess how their inclusion can enhance peacebuilding. The researchers will also find out how existing policies and legal frameworks support survivors’ participation in these processes and how they can be improved.

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