DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2016.v04i10.009

Pages: 1279-1283

Abstract: Armed conflict has affected both women and men directly and indirectly but their experiences are different. Mostly men are targeted as direct victims whereas women are often left with social-economic impact and psychological trauma. Most of these women are from the below poverty line with less educational background. The paper is trying to highlight the plights of women affected by armed conflict and their lives which are often ignored and neglected. It tries to bring to light on the hardships they are experiencing for their own survival and their families with minimal support from the society and the system. There are situations during an armed conflict which push women to take up decision making roles and are often required to sit on the negotiating table with conflicting agents in the public sphere. These kinds of circumstances can change the life of a woman completely. They sometimes evolved themselves into becoming active peace activists or they start participating in the militarist struggles as combatants. The paper also tries to emphasize the role of women organisations and NGOs in the armed conflict situation and the supports provided by them to the affected families. Armed conflict not only brings miseries, destitutions, and violations to the lives of women but also gives opportunities to transform their lives in terms of self determinations, empowerment, their outlook and perception on social issues as well as their social relationships and status.