Abstract

In response to rapidly increasing and worsening natural hazards brought about by climate change, militaries are gaining importance in the humanitarian field due to their functional capabilities. However, given the links between an increase in security personnel and women’s increased vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence, there is also a need to look beyond the functional advantages of the military in disaster relief operations and integrate a gender perspective – particularly by leveraging the WPS agenda – to illuminate the particular risks faced by women and girls in disaster contexts. By analyzing the central role of the military in Southeast Asia’s humanitarian architecture through the four pillars of the WPS agenda, this paper seeks to provide insights into the potential impacts of the increasing military presence in humanitarian response operations elsewhere.

introduction

The presence of the military in humanitarian aid operations is not a new phenomenon. The modern form of this practice dates back to post-war Europe.1 The difference, however, is that the military is increasingly being used to respond to disasters at home, rather than just as part of humanitarian missions abroad following disasters. According to the Centre for Climate and Security’s Military Responses to Climate Hazards tracker, there have been over 280 disasters in which military interventions have taken place – the vast majority of which have been domestic disasters.2 This appears to be due – at least in part – to the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters resulting from climate change, where it is increasingly common for states to be overwhelmed with their civilian disaster response capacities and have to resort to their military. The military is therefore increasingly seen as an integral contributor to disaster relief – both in support of humanitarian operations in disasters abroad and in disasters at home. The case for military involvement in domestic emergencies has also been strengthened by the experience of COVID-19: States around the world, even where the military is not generally called upon in domestic disaster response, mobilised their armed forces as part of their national response to enforce curfews and movement controls, set up makeshift hospitals, and provide transport and logistical support.3 While the military can be a useful actor in functional terms, an increased military presence also carries risks – particularly for women.4 Given the well-established link between increased security personnel and women’s greater vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), an increased military presence in a humanitarian setting where women are already disproportionately affected can have unpredictable consequences. It is therefore necessary to look beyond the functional use of the military in disaster relief operations and to bring in a gender perspective to highlight the particular risks faced by women and girls and to address the specific needs of women in such humanitarian contexts – as highlighted in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, also known as the “Women, Peace and Security Agenda”.

Southeast Asia is the most disaster-prone region in the world and is familiar with the involvement of the military in disaster relief. The region’s armed forces have long been considered the primary first responders in humanitarian emergencies.5 As such, this region would be an interesting case study to consider a situation where the military naturally plays a central role in humanitarian relief operations, as well as the role of women within such a humanitarian architecture and the impact on them. In particular, this Insight analyses the role of the military in the humanitarian field from the perspective of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Southeast Asia. The next section introduces the WPS agenda and the role of the military in Southeast Asia’s humanitarian infrastructure. The subsequent sections then examine and analyse this humanitarian infrastructure through the four pillars of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) framework/context.