Justice and rape on the periphery: the supremacy of social harmony in the space between local solutions and formal judicial systems in northern Uganda

Moral Spaces and Sexual Transgression: Understanding Rape in War and Post Conflict

“…The analysis presented here draws on long‐term ethnographic work on sexual violence in the Acholi subregion of northern Uganda (Porter, , , , , , , ). Over the years this research has included an initial random sample and interviews of nearly 200 women in two villages about their experiences with forced sex; sustained interaction with key informants drawn from this group and their/my surroundings; another study focused on ex‐combatant clients of a reception centre; discussions with men and public authorities; work in schools with teachers on sexual education; and over 150 ‘love‐life’ history interviews including formerly displaced people and ex‐combatants .…”

Male Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence

“…Crazzolara's additional interpretation of ngol as "to decide a question" in relation to justice, however, much better aligns with Acholi conceptions of justice. According to local understandings of wrongdoing and crime, primarily measured as a disruption of social harmony (Porter 2012), justice, or ngol matir-to "decide a question"-can be understood as "to decide a right way forward in the aftermath of wrongdoing" (Porter 2013: 106). In this context, "a right way forward" would ideally be determined in an inclusive and participatory process, involving survivors and offenders, and at times their wider communities, in line with restorative justice theories.…”

Negotiating Gender Justice in Tanzania

“…Violence against women, such as abduction and rape, is commonly associated with times of armed conflict and war. However, globally research shows that most cases of violence against women occur, not primarily in war nor in public spaces, but rather in the 'cosy' home atmosphere of everyday lifeand most frequently carried out by the closest and dearest; by men such as lovers, husbands, fathers and fathers in law (Green 1999;Bhabha 2000;Porter 2012, Heinskou 2015. Although many cases of rape and sexual assault are never reported, due to blaming and social stigma on the women's part, cumbersome and, at times, corrupt legal procedures, figures clearly show that reported cases are increasing both in Tanzania and in the west.…”