A man stands next to a "scare-soldier" constructed to look like a guard standing next to attention at a checkpoint in the road in northern DRC.

A man stands next to a "scare-soldier" constructed to look like a guard standing next to attention at a checkpoint in the road in northern DRC.

Research with armed actors

One of the most challenging and interesting topics I work on is understanding how and why people join armed groups, the behaviours in which they engage, and the processes that help them demobilize. This work helps us understand the types of abuses that occur in conflict zones, as well as the motivations and possible influence points for addressing sexual violence and other abuses perpetrated by armed actors. Here are some resources on this topic, both from my own research and others...

Rape in War: Motives of Militia in DRC | United States Institute of Peace

Indoctrinate the Heart to Impunity | Harvard Humanitarian Initiative

Wartime Sexual Violence | United States Institute of Peace