Peace in Exile? Gender-sensitive Analysis of Displaced People's Peace Perceptions and Practices

Edler, Hannah; Krause, Ulrike; Rugamba, Abubakar; Segadlo, Nadine

Abstract

Worldwide, violent conflicts and their aftermath drive millions to flee in search of safety elsewhere. While research extensively examines the risks of violence that people – and especially women – face during displacement, the role of peace remains insufficiently analyzed. When addressed at all, peace is primarily reduced to a prerequisite for displaced individuals’ return to places of origin, leaving other interpretations of peace and its wider relevance largely unexplored in academic discourse. The project Women, Forced Migration – and Peace? Peacebuilding Practices of Women in Refugee Camps seeks to address this gap by enhancing our understanding of the conflict-displacement nexus via a focus on peace. It was generously funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research, and aims to explore: (1) the meanings ascribed to peace by displaced people, particularly women in conflict-induced displacement; (2) their contributions to fostering peaceful conditions; and, (3) the opportunities and obstacles they encounter in their peacebuilding efforts. Central to our research is a bottom-up approach that prioritizes displaced individuals’ lived experiences, knowledges, perceptions, and practices. To these ends, the research integrates the varieties of peace framework, the concept of everyday peace, agency theory, and migrant situated knowledge to investigate these dynamics. It focuses on Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya as the primary case study, supplemented by re search in Germany, and employs a multimethod approach, including participant observation, dialogue, journal writing, group discussions, workshops, and semi-structured interviews. Displaced individuals’ perceptions of peace are revealed to be multifaceted, encompassing structural stability, social harmony, and personal well-being. This is shaped by their experiences of conflict and displacement. They associate peace with legal, political, and economic stabity, community belonging, and recovery from personal trauma. Their peace practices are equally diverse, combining individual and collective strategies such as fostering social connections, maintaining routines, and engaging in community-building initiatives, often led by women. Refugee-led organizations and initiatives address injustice and promote dialogue and coexistence. Moreover, mindfulness, faith, and hope are crucial for inner peace. Yet, achieving peace remains challenging. Structural barriers such as limited rights, economic precarity, and insecurity in camps and host countries more broadly undermine sustainable peace. Discriminatory practices targeting women and LGBTQ+ individuals further exacerbate inequalities and inhibit peaceful conditions. While protection is supposed to be provided in camps, people often continue to face violence, dependency, and legal restrictions on-site, making peace incomplete and conditional. Finally, peace is seen as a continuous process requiring sustained effort at the structural, social, and individual level alike. Displaced individuals demonstrate agency, shaping peace through their proactive practices despite systemic constraints. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of collective efforts, with many displaced people self-organizing to address emerging challenges. These findings underscore their dynamic role in fostering peace, presenting it not as a static outcome but as an evolving journey shaped by continued collaboration along the way.