First published 2020
Since the early 1980s, the United Nations has passed multiple resolutions condemning violence against women. Member states have committed to this agenda, yet domestic implementation varies dramatically. Peace Adzo Medie examines this gap by studying two post-conflict African nations: Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. She analyzes how these countries differ in addressing rape and domestic violence through their criminal justice systems. Medie conducted interviews with over 300 people, including policymakers, police officers, UN staff, NGO workers, and survivors of violence themselves. Her research reveals that implementation success depends on the intensity of international and domestic pressure, plus favorable political conditions within each country. The book explains not just how states adopt anti-violence policies, but how women actually experience these legal frameworks in practice. Medie argues that most African states fail to prioritize preventing violence against women, leaving perpetrators to act without consequences. Her work demonstrates why justice remains out of reach for most victims despite existing laws.
Genres: history, international-relations, gender-studies, non-fiction, global-warming, law, africa, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, social-commentary
Setting: Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, United Nations
Period: 1980s, Post-Conflict
252 pages · Hardcover · Oxford University Press
Content warnings: domestic-violence, rape, violence