Publications

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DISCUSSION PAPERS

CDAS Discussion Paper No. 101 (GHSI no. 5)

Miranda D'Amico and Nancy Miodrag, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD): Women and Children - A selective, Annotated Bibliography, March 2003, 83 pp.

ABSTRACT
This annotated bibliography is a selection of research literature, topics and resources that relate to refugee women and children whose displacement has taken a negative toll in terms of psychological health and coping mechanisms. More specifically, this bibliography deals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) as it affects refugee women and children. Women and children are especially vulnerable in times of conflict. Women are also twice as likely to develop PSTD than men, and if left to believe negatively about their coping ability or safety of the world, recovery and coping are more difficult. Children's reactions often mirror the reactions of their parents, in this case mother's. Mothers who have difficulties adjusting to their situation and who view themselves facing insurmountable crisis, lose their key support role. It is critical in these situations that mothers and children be provided with supportive environments and communities where mothers and children can develop a sense of mastery and control over their lives and develop the capacity for re-adjustment and coping. Keeping this in mind, this bibliography also focuses on resources and organizations that exist to help refugee women and children affected by PTSD.

CDAS Discussion Paper No. 100 (GHSI no. 4)

Manal Jamal, The Disengagement of the Palestinian Women's Movement: Reconsidering Social Movement Theory, September 2002, 25 pp.

Among the most notable phenomena of post-war transitions is the demobilization and marginalization of previously active grassroots organizations, and the inability of these groups to effectively mobilize after the transition. Developments in the Palestinian women's movement in the post-Madrid period are illustrative of this point. Beginning with the Madrid peace conference, the Palestinian women's movement began to experience unprecedented demobilization. These developments in the women's movement coincided with the increased institutionalization of the movement, and unprecedented financial support from the international community. Logic would suggest that that the women's movement would flourish under these circumstances; the opposite ensued.

CDAS Discussion Paper No. 94 (GESH no.3)

Myriam Gervais, Sécurité Humaine: Approche centrée sur les problèmes structurels, May 2002, 20 pp.

ABSTRACT
Considering that human security concept is used more and more for different purposes but without being strictly defined, this paper tries to answer some essential questions. What is human security? Who is the first actor responsible for its application? How could a secure environment be restored in a post-conflict situation? Based in part on the Rwanda case and on the author's previous works, this reflection suggests elements for a comprehensive approach addressing human security issues.

To read the integral document, click here: No. 94 [.pdf].

CDAS Discussion Paper No. 93 (GHSI no.2)

Claudia Mitchell, Stephanie Garrow and Jackie Kirk, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University, Refugee Women and Girls: A Selective, Annotated Bibliography, May 2002, 33 pp.

ABSTRACT
This annotated bibliography sets out to map a selection of topics and issues relevant to working with refugee girls and women, particularly those who have been re-located from conflict zones. It has been developed with several audiences in mind, such as those who are working on the front-lines: in shelters, women's centres and community organizations, in classrooms and schools, and in activist organizations.

To read the integral document, click here; No. 93 [.pdf].

CDAS Discussion Paper No. 90 (GHSI no. 1)

Rosalind Boyd, Women's Organizations Working for Peace and Reconciliation in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, May 2001, 22 pp.

ABSTRACT
This document presents various initiatives that African women have undertaken regionally and nationally over the past decade to resist war and to affirm, in its place, possibilities for new sociopolitical relations rooted in a culture of peace. This document is supported by several years of research in the Great Lakes region of Africa and more recently in Rwanda and Uganda.

To read the integral document, click here: No. 90 [.pdf].

GUIDES

Anne Benoit and Dorys Makhoul. Sur le chemin de l'espoir: guide pratique pour groupes d'entraide a l'intention des femmes ayant subi la violence suite a des conflits armés. Centre des Femmes de Montréal, Montréal, 2004, 95 pp.

ABSTRACT
This practical guide, available in French only, is designed to assist support groups and individuals working with women who have been subjected to violence during armed conflicts and continue to experience physical and/or psychological trauma. Through the concrete experiences of working with specific groups, the guide offers those assisting women refugees and immigrants a better understanding of the challenges that they are confronting in trying to establish themselves in a new environment, as well as practical tools for assistance.

To receive more information and/or copies of the guide, contact the Centre des Femmes de Montréal directly.

Shree Mulay and Laila Malik. Navigating the Refugee Claims Process: Resource Guide. South Asian Women's Community Centre and McGill Centre for Research and Teaching on Women, Montreal, 2004, 39 pp.

ABSTRACT
This bilingual resource guide is intended as a tool for community workers who support and work with refugee claimants. Although the focus of the guide is women refugee claimants, the guide will be of use to all refugee claimants. The document describes the gender-specific risks and barriers faced by women refugee claimants as well as the experiences faced by community workers and lawyers attempting to assist them. The document will be of use to all those involved in the claims process.

To obtain more information or copies, contact the McGill Centre for Rsearch and Teaching on Women directly.

A Handbook on Documenting Peace Processes in Conflict-affected Areas. The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), Kampala, Uganda, 2004, 18 pp.

ABSTRACT
This handbook was produced following an EASSI workshop in Kampala, Uganda with participants from conflict-affected countries of the Great Lakes region of Africa. Its primary purpose is to facilitate grassroots organizations working in these areas to document peace initiatives and to evaluate their impact. Understanding the different stages of conflict, conflict resolution and peace processes, the handbook contributes to building the capacity of peacemakers and elevating women to their rightful place in the peace processes.

To obtain copies of this handbook, contact EASSI directly.

Jackie Kirk, Stephanie Garrow and Kaisa McCandless, A Facilitator`s Guide to the Video: Unwanted Images: Gender-based Violence in the New South Africa. McGill University, Montréal, 2002, 27 pp.

ABSTRACT
This bilingual document aims at helping facilitators use the video Unwanted Images: Gender-based Violence in the New South Africa. This video can be used as a resource to raise awareness, start discussion and stimulate further activity on gender-based violence in a number of different contexts and with multiples audiences (teachers, parents, students, social workers, etc).

To order, to borrow or to receive more information about the guide and/or the video Unwanted Images: Gender-based Violence in the New South Africa, claudia.mitchell [at] mcgill.ca (click here) .

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