This thesis aims to explain how post-conflict environmental initiatives affect women’s empowerment within natural resource management in the short term. It argues that the lack of causal effect between the variables can be explained by the robustness of patriarchal institutions. Gender-sensitive environmental peacebuilding lacks the strength to counter traditional and well-established formal and informal societal structures. Using a structured focused comparison on Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo the analysis shows that UNEP Country Recovery Programmes, which are used as an example of the post-conflict environmental initiatives, were unable to change women’s position within natural resource management in the first five years of the establishment. Even though presented theoretical frameworks partially explain the results, more research is needed to draw informed and conclusive inferences.

Les guerres sont d’importants facteurs de recompositions territoriales. Les territoires des « Pays du Niari », région créée par le politique, ont une place particulière dans l’histoire des conflits au Congo et celle-ci conditionne leur reconstruction. Après 10 ans de guerres, la région a du mal à se remettre, et se trouve au cœur d’enjeux socio-économiques, politiques et identitaires à différentes échelles.Cette thèse étudie d’une part les conflits, procédant à une géohistoire méthodique d’une région et de populations occultés par les acteurs nationaux et internationaux. Elle étudie d’autre part la façon dont les différents acteurs s’approprient la notion de post-conflit et les répercussions territoriales des actions entreprises. Cela amène enfin à faire état du hiatus entre actions de reconstructions et besoins des populations et des territoires, visibles à travers des territoires et des temporalités fragmentés. / Wars are major factors in territorial reorganisation. The territories of the “Pays du Niari”, region created by politicians, have a particular/specific place in the history of conflicts in Congo and the former influences their reconstruction. After 10 years of war, the region finds it difficult to recover, and finds itself in the middle of socio-economic, political and identity issues at different levels.This thesis studies, on the one hand, the conflicts leading to a methodical history-geography change of a region and populations put aside by national and international decision makers. It studies, on the other hand, how the different actors make theirs the notion of the post conflict and the territorial repercussions of the actions undertaken. This finally leads us to put forward the hiatus between reconstruction actions and the needs of the populations and the territories, clearly visible through the fragmented territories and timeframes.

[pt] A dissertação presente tem como tema os casos de abuso e exploração sexual (AES) cometidos por militares em operações de paz da ONU. Na década de 90, com o aumento das funções exercidas, e, consequentemente, do número de tropas empregadas, as denúncias de má-conduta sexual tornam-se, em várias missões das Nações Unidas, cada vez mais numerosas. A situação de pobreza extrema e de vulnerabilidade em que se encontram a maioria das mulheres e meninas dos países-hospedeiros, a sensação de impunidade e a grande disparidade de recursos entre militares e habitantes locais têm como consequência uma série de relações sexuais explorativas, que vão desde o envolvimento com prostitutas à formação de relacionamentos mais duradouros. Tais interações sexuais têm uma série de consequências negativas não só para as vítimas, mas também para a credibilidade da missão e da própria ONU. Após anos de inércia institucional, o tema ganha, em 2002, espaço relevante nas políticas da Organização, que introduz diversas medidas em combate ao AES. Tais políticas, no entanto, têm efetividade limitada frente às imunidades dadas a militares e civis em missões de paz. Em face dos entraves das medidas punitivas, a pesquisa tem por objetivo verificar a hipótese de que o treinamento sobre AES implementado nos países contribuintes de tropas possa ser uma ferramenta eficiente na diminuição de tais casos. Para isso, analisaremos os treinamentos ministrados no Exército e na Marinha do Brasil - principal país contribuinte de tropas para a Missão de Estabilização das Nações Unidas no Haiti (MINUSTAH)- e no Exército da Índia - o maior fornecedor de militares para a Missão das Nações Unidas na República Democrática do Congo (MONUC). / [en] The present thesis focuses on sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA) committed by members of the military components of United Nations peacekeeping operations. In the 1990s, with the increase of the tasks exercised by, and the number of troops in peacekeeping operations cases of SEA became ever more numerous. The extreme poverty and vulnerability from which most of the women and girls in peacekeeping host countries find themselves, the impunity of UN soldiers and the huge disparity between their resources and those of local populations has as a consequence a number of forms of exploitative sexual relationships, that go from the use of prostitutes to more longterm arrangements. Such sexual interactions have a series of negative consequences not only for the victims, but also for the credibility of UN missions and of the Organization itself. After years of institutional inertia, the subject eventually gained some profile within UN policy, with the introduction of a series of measures to combat SEA. Nevertheless, these policies have shown limited effectiveness faced with the immunity granted to the soldiers in question. Given these limitations, the research upon which this thesis is based has as a goal the verification of the hypothesis that the training on SEA implemented in the troop-contributing countries can be an effective tool in combating these crimes. To do so, it analyzes the training implemented in Brazil s Army and Navy- which furnish the lead contingent of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and in the Indian Army - the main troop contributing country to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

Cette thèse porte sur l'implantation missionnaire en République démocratique du Congo sous l'administration coloniale belge vers la fin du XIXe siècle. Nous voulons comprendre le phénomène observé de la dépendance financière de cette Église, en situant ses différentes causes ou facteurs exogènes et endogènes notamment son ancrage dans la politique coloniale. Dès le début, elle a bénéficié des subventions de l’État et d'autres avantages importants, dont de vastes étendues de terres. Depuis sa prise en main par la hiérarchie autochtone, période correspondant à la décolonisation, cette Église n'arrive pas à se prendre en charge, obligée de se tourner constamment vers l'extérieur (tes organismes occidentaux de financement) pour assurer ses différents besoins. Or cette politique d'extraversion financière ne rassure plus, vu le contexte socioculturel occidental actuel (diminution des pratiques religieuses, crises financières mondiales, ...). En définitive, il faut à cette Église congolaise longtemps habituée à l'assistance de repenser une nouvelle logique d'action lui permettant de trouver d'autres possibilités pour assurer son autofinancement en vue de sa survie. L'objectif de ce travail est de montrer que des potentialités existent qu'elle peut exploiter: la mobilisation et la gestion rationnelle des ressources humaines et économiques disponibles, la rentabilisation des structures de productions héritées des missionnaires, mais en comptant sur un environnement sociopolitique et économique national favorable et un changement des mentalités des acteurs en présence. / This thesis focuses the missionary presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the Belgian rule towards the end of the Sixth Century. We seek to understand bow this Church came to be financially dependent by looking at the different causes or exogenous and endogenous as well as the roots of this phenomenon within the context of the colonial policy. From the beginning, it has received State subsidies and enjoyed other significant advantages including large tracts of land. Ever since the native hierarchy has taken over, i.e. as from the decolonization, this Church has been unable to support itself and has been obliged constantly seek external aid from western financial bodies in order to meet its needs. But in the light of the current western sociocultural context (decline of religious practices, financial crises worldwide ... ) such a financial extraversion is no longer comforting. Ali things considered, long accustomed as it was to be assisted, this Congolese Church now needs to develop a new course of action through which it will be able to find other means of self-support for its survival. The objective of this work is to show that there is potential at band, namely the mobilization and the rational management of the human and economic resources available, the cost-effectiveness of the production facilities inherited from the missionaries, but resting on a favourable national sociopolitical and economic environment and a change in the attitude of the parties involved.

Ces vingt dernières années ont été marquées par des flux d’investissements directs étrangers (IDE) entre les économies mondialisées. L’Afrique reste cependant plus en marge que les autres régions. Cela peut s’expliquer par divers facteurs comme les ressources ou les politiques publiques. En effet, certains pays possèdent des politiques publiques envers les IDE plus ou moins réticentes. Ce présent travail se concentre sur les raisons qui amènent les pays à adopter ce type de politiques publiques. En m’appuyant sur l’approche britannique de Susan Strange et la méthode de la différence de Mills, je compare la République du Congo qui met en place des politiques incitatives envers les IDE et la Namibie dont les politiques publiques sont plus restreintes. D’une part, cette différence de politiques publiques envers les IDE s’explique par la colonisation et par les relations qu’ils ont avec leurs anciens pays coloniaux. D’autre part, les institutions internationales influencent aussi les comportements de ces deux pays dans leurs relations avec les investisseurs étrangers. Pour cette étude, je me suis concentrée sur l’ONU et le FMI. Celles-ci ont donc intensifié les comportements de ces pays vis-à-vis des IDE. / These last twenty years were marked by flows of foreign direct investments (FDI) between globalized economies. The continent of Africa is more marginalized than other regions. It could be explained by various factors like resources or public policies. Indeed, several countries have public policies towards FDI more or less reluctant. This present paper is focused on why countries adopt this type of public policy. Based on Susan Strange’s British approach and Mills’ difference method, I compare the Republic of Congo, which has incentive policies for FDI and Namibia with public policies which are more limited. On the one hand, this difference in public policies towards FDI is explained by colonization and the relations they have with their former colonial countries. On the other hand, the international institutions also influence the behaviour of these two countries in their relations with foreign investors. For this study, I focused on the UN and the IMF. These have thus intensified the behaviour of these countries towards FDI.

The thesis focuses on analysis of causes of armed conflicts within security complex of the African Great Lakes region. Explored period is situated between 1990 and present. The major part of text is devoted concrete analysis of causes of conflicts according to sector approach. The thesis attempts to describe main causal frameworks of conflicts within researched area eventually to find some their common features.

"Whereas victims of ordinary crimes such as theft, robbery, assault or murder find it easier to obtain redress, victims of the most serious violatons such as war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity receive less attention insofar as their redress is concerned. Apart from some exceptional cases where victims of serious human rights abuses had their right to redress vindicated, there has not been an effective and comprehensive way of redressing victims of gross human rights violations. In Africa for instance, victims' redress in post-Apartheid South Africa and post-genocide Rwanda have been problematic. Thus, it is meaningful investigating how effectively the victims' right to reparation can be implemented in case of gross and systematic human rights violations. Preliminary to the above interrogation are questions such as: what are gross and systematic human rights violations? What are international standards regarding redress for the victims of such abuses? The case studies of Sierra Leone and the DRC will be closely analysed as an empirical foundation for these questions. ... This study consists of five chapters. Chapter one draws the context in which the study emerges. It provides the foundation and the structure of the dissertation. Chapter two outlines the legal framework that is relevant for answering the questions raised by this study. It explores international human rights standards regarding reparation of vicitms of gross and systematic violations. Chapter three analyses the implementation of victims' reparation in the context of Sierra Leone. It confronts Sierra Leonean responses to war victims with international standards on victims' reparation. Chapter four analyses victims' situation in the post-conflict Democratic Republic of Congo and draws lessons from the Sierra Leonean experience. Chapter five sums up findings of the study." -- Introduction. / Prepared under the supervision of Professor Alejandro Lorite Escorihuela at the Department of Law, American University in Cairo, Egypt / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2006. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

Since the 1990s the Great Lakes Region has continued to be mired in intractable conflict, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) being at the center of it. The aim of this study is therefore an attempt to understand how the InternationalConference of the Great Lakes Region has fared in the transformation of conflict in the region, through its attempts in the DRC. For the purpose of the study, conflict transformation as presented by John Paul Lederachwas used as a theory of analyzing the selected peace efforts by the ICGLR. Furthermore, the data used in the study were secondary data which consists of archival records and documentation. The study revealed two key issues in the ICGLR’s approach to peace attempts in DRC; it showed that there are gaps in the conflict transformation approach of the earlier attempts by the ICGL, which favored more political solutions. Secondly, a rethink of the approach revealed a much more robust approach, which seeks to address not only the political conflicts but also seeks to address the historical and structural conflicts in the region. However, with the positive change in the approach, there are still high levels of conflict in the DRC.

[pt] Esta dissertação analisa como a Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) tenta estabilizar e justificar um significado ambivalente de proteção e seus papéis sociopolíticos na agenda de Proteção de Civis (PoC). Atravessada por diferentes noções de tradução, esta pesquisa toma os Assistentes de Ligação Comunitária (CLAs) como um prisma analítico para complexificar os esforços para construir representações de proteção. Os CLAs, criados juntamente com a Missão das Nações Unidas para a Estabilização da República Democrática do Congo (MONUSCO), são funcionários locais encarregados de melhorar o engajamento da missão com a população local nas atividades de PoC, dadas as suas supostas habilidades linguístico-culturais. Assim, os CLAs também são parte do movimento das missões de estabilização na doutrina da ONU. Essa virada sinaliza a utilização de táticas de contra insurgência, cujo entendimento sobre linguagem e a cultura como armas objetiva obter inteligência e o apoio da população local. Seguindo uma abordagem pós-estruturalista e pós-colonial particularmente inspirada nas obras de Jacques Derrida e Homi K. Bhabha, esta dissertação se propõe a desconstruir as representações aplicadas aos CLAs por meio da análise dos discursos presentes nos relatórios e documentos doutrinários da ONU. Para tal, investiga-se como se espera que os CLAs traduzam linguisticamente e/ou culturalmente a visão de proteção da ONU para a população local. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa promove diálogos com os Estudos de Tradução e Interpretação ao explorar o caráter político da tradução para as Relações Internacionais ao mesmo tempo que se aprofunda em um ator geralmente negligenciado na doutrina da ONU e nos Estudos de Operações de Paz. / [en] This thesis analyzes how the United Nations (UN) attempts to stabilize and justify an ambivalent meaning of protection and its sociopolitical roles in the Protection of Civilians (PoC) agenda. Traversed by different notions of translation, this research takes the Community Liaison Assistants (CLAs) as an analytical prism to complexify the efforts to construct representations of protection. The CLAs, created alongside the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), are local staff tasked with improving the mission s engagement with the local population in PoC activities, given their supposed linguistic-cultural skills. Thus, the CLAs are also part of the stabilization missions movement in UN doctrine. This turn signals the use of counterinsurgency tactics, whose understanding of language and culture as weapons seeks to obtain intelligence and support of the local population. Following a poststructuralist and postcolonial approach inspired mainly by the works of Jacques Derrida and Homi K. Bhabha, this thesis proposes deconstructing the representations applied to the CLAs through the analysis of the discourses presented in the UN reports and doctrinal documents. To this end, it is investigated how the CLAs are expected to translate linguistically and/or culturally the UN vision of protection to the local population. In this sense, this research promotes dialogues with Translation and Interpretation Studies by exploring the political character of translation for International Relations while delving into a generally denied actor in UN doctrine and Peace Operations Studies.

Denna studie beskriver utmaningar för socialt arbete mot barnarbete inom ASM-gruvarbete i Afrika. Detta är gjort genom en strukturerad litteraturöversikt där nio av 192 artiklar valdes ut, vilka tillsammans redovisar en översikt av existerande data. Uppsatsen är ämnad att tematiskt analysera omständigheter kring barnarbete i gruvor i Afrika, och hur förhållandet gällande socialt arbete mellan västerländska och afrikanska länder kan förstås avseende barn som arbetar med mineralbrytning i Afrika. Förhållandet mellan Afrika och västvärlden konkretiseras genom Demokratiska republiken Kongo (DRK) och koboltkedjan. Utgångspunkten för studien är barnkonventionen. Analysen diskuterar vad som behöver tas i beaktning för att uppnå hållbara förändringar. Studiens slutsats är att perspektiv på barnets bästa och barnarbete skiljer sig beroende på social kontext, vilket leder till utmaningar för socialt arbete mot barnarbete. Samarbetet mellan västvärlden och Afrika behöver stärkas än mer för att uppnå hållbar utveckling. / This study depicts challenges in social work against child labour in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in sub-Saharan Africa. It is made through a structured review where nine of 192 articles were selected, which together provides an overview of existing data. The paper is aimed to thematically analyze circumstances of child labour in mines in Africa, and how the relationship of social work between Western and African countries can be understood regarding children mining in Africa. The relationship between Africa and the Western world is concretized through the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and the cobalt chain. The approach in this article is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The analysis discusses what should be considered to achieve sustainable changes. It concludes perspectives on best interest of the child and child labour differs depending on the social context, leading to challenges for social work against child labour. Greater cooperation between the western world and Africa is needed for sustainable development.