Browsing by Author "Jeken, Taylor"
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- ItemA review of the China - Africa arms trade and its relationship to issues of gender and human security(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Jeken, Taylor; Gouws, Amanda; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As emerging powers in Africa aim to secure resources, the relationship between China and Africa has been scrutinized regarding China’s arms transfers to fragile African states. Inquiry into China-Africa arms transfers led to the studies focus on how these transfers affect African women’s human security, and to question whether or not there is evidence that China’s arms transfers to Africa escalate violent conflict. This study determines if there is a correlation between these factors exist and to what extent China’s small arms transfers affect the individual security of women in fragile African states. This was researched to raise awareness to the most salient threats to women’s human security in Africa. Throughout this study, the small arms and light weapons supplied by China to Africa have been found to be both direct and indirect causes of these threats. This research uses perspectives from feminist human security theory, which originally emerged as a means of consolidating the concepts of individual protection, human rights, and the welfare of these individuals, to focus on the security of women through human development and the advancement of international society. Through this perspective it was discovered that there is a correlation between the China-Africa arms trade and the ongoing violent conflict in Africa due to the availability of small arms in socio-politically and economically fragile African states. China has supplied small arms to African states, these weapons have destabilized the region, exacerbated existing conflicts and provided armed groups with the ability to attack and oppress women and children. During armed conflicts women are exposed to increased levels of armed gender based and domestic violence that include brutal acts of rape, sexual enslavement, torture, and murder perpetrated by state forces and armed rebel forces. In this regard, China has negatively influenced women’s human security in these regions, albeit indirectly. While it has always been China’s responsibility to monitor the effects of its international affairs on African states, it has slowly begun to adjust its foreign policies to more carefully consider African humanitarian issues. This study indicates that an important requirement to further reduce the effects of small arms in Africa is that more stringent and effective arms transfer controls are developed throughout Africa. Although African women are victimised by ongoing arms proliferation throughout Africa, their activism and inclusion in peace negotiations and post-conflict disarmament and reintegration operations, is potentially the most important source of resistance to the effects of armed violence in Africa. It is therefore important to formally include women in African peace processes and operations to be able to improve women’s human security in Africa. The inclusion of African women can potentially improve the outcome of these operations, ultimately determining how successful they are at reducing the effects of armed violence. This research will hopefully improve international awareness of the current situation in women’s human security in Africa. To further underestimate and ignore the potential influence of women as crucial actors in preventing and mitigating the effects of armed conflict will lead to peace-making and peace-building efforts remaining ineffectual at producing sustainable long-term solutions towards peace, stability and security in Africa.