Victims of political violence ; recognition of harm

Abstract

Victims of political violence have increasingly become a central focus in scholarship on peace processes, cycles of violence, and the broader societal impacts of conflict. Beyond immediate harm to individuals, political violence reshapes communities, institutions, and collective memory. This paper argues that both the experience of victimhood and the legal and socio-legal responses to political violence are profoundly gendered processes.

Focusing on key gendered dimensions of victimhood, the paper examines how <harm= is defined within legal and policy frameworks, often privileging certain forms of violence while marginalising others more commonly experienced by women. It further explores the lived realities of surviving political violence, highlighting the enduring physical, psychological, and socio-economic burdens placed on survivors. Particular attention is given to the disproportionate responsibilities borne by women, who frequently act as caregivers, community stabilisers, and custodians of memory in postconflict contexts.

By analysing these dynamics, the paper demonstrates how gender shapes recognition, redress, and resilience. It calls for more inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to addressing political violence, ensuring that diverse experiences of harm and survival are acknowledged within both transitional justice mechanisms and broader peacebuilding efforts.