***Insert French Version***

Peacemaking is a long-term diplomatic process of negotiations intended to culminate in a signed peace agreement. Because few women are leaders among the parties to peace talks, women’s perspectives and experiences are frequently ignored. Yet the process of negotiation provides a foundation for future laws, policies and programmes. When women are absent at the outset, it becomes increasingly difficult to insert them in later processes. When women overcome the many obstacles they face, their creativity and initiative can be invaluable to the peace process, whether through unofficial negotiations with armed groups, massive campaigns to bring parties to the peace table or the gender-specific guarantees they secure as formal negotiators.