Forced prostitution: unpacking the links between globalization, neo-liberalism and the illicit sex trade

Short description This talk examines forced prostitution as a form of gender-based violence within and beyond the conflict zone. Drawing on Iraq and Syria, Dr Banwell demonstrates how a lack of employment opportunities caused by conflict, alongside increasing engagement with neo-liberal policies, forces women into the global sex trade. Longer description Transnational feminism attributes women’s social, political and economic marginalization to capitalism, class exploitation, neo-imperialism and neo-liberalism. It addresses the local and global contexts in which violence against women and girls occurs. Allied to this is the political economy approach. This approach addresses the relationship between the economic, the social and the political. Moving beyond direct acts of physical violence - by addressing structural forms of inequality and violence - the political economy approach broadens what is meant by violence and abuse. Accordingly, forced prostitution - resulting from a lack of employment opportunities - is considered a form of structural violence. Drawing on both of these perspectives, and focusing on Iraq and Syria, Dr Banwell examines how globalization and neo-liberalism impact the day-to-day lives of women and girls in war-shattered economies. The talk will conclude with some thoughts on what is being done to address gender-based violence and what measures can be taken to achieve gender equality in post-conflict situations