The Need for Women in Peace Building

It is essential that women play a key role in the peace building process in conflicts around the world. Although UN Security Council Resolution 1325 urges states to engage the equal participation of women in conflict resolution and peace building, women too often continue to be underrepresented. I applaud the recent efforts of Kenyan women to make their voices heard in ending the current conflict and sincerely hope that they will be allowed to contribute in a meaningful way.

As women often bear the brunt of the effects of war, including sexual violence, abandonment, and increased economic burden, women have a right to partake fully in the resolution of conflicts and subsequent reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, without the full participation of women, such efforts will not be as democratic or as successful. The many victims of rape as a weapon of war and other forms of horrific violence know firsthand the hardships of conflict and would likely be the first to promote peace.

Women have a unique opportunity to rebuild their communities after conflicts have ended. Frequently left in the majority after violent conflicts, women have both greater need and opportunity to support their families through creative entrepreneurism. In addition, post conflict situations can offer women increased prospects for leadership in newly formed governments or civic organizations. There is a dire need for women’s participation in peace building around the world; women survivors of war possess the drive, insight, and power to contribute to the conclusion of conflicts worldwide.

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The Need For Women in Peace Building

Soumis par victoria Anib le Thu, 2008-02-21 10:52.

Dear Emily,
That was a very inspiring article specially for a woman like me who comes from war-torn Sudan , a country that has undergone two decades of civil war.
Indeed the role of woman in postconflict situation is very vital because women by nature are peace loving and are always keen to have a better future for their nations.
In my country after signing peace in 2005, many womewn have been appointed as ministers , advisers to governers and even to the president as per the 25% representation which was in the costitution of the SPLM( Sudan People Liberation Movement) , a movement that has changed from a gorilla movement to a political party today and the only movement that has given women at least 25 % representation.
Many of the women from my country including myself who now live in diaspora are keen to assist in rebuilding and redeveloping Southern Sudan and other marginalised regions that lack even basic nessecities like proper sanitation and safe water but it is hard to know how and where to begin specily with the slow implemenation of the peace process.
As you mentioned there is a need for women to participate in peace building and I think that there is also a need to participate in sustaining and maintaining peace for countries who already signed peace agreements.
Victoria Anib

Women and Peace Talks

Soumis par haley.paige.horan le Ven, 2008-06-27 10:54.

Following Emily's interesting contribution, I am pleased to share with iKNOW Politics members some key points from a panel discussion I attended yesterday on Women and Peace Talks (hosted by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women as a side event to the CSW):

This year's session of the CSW (52nd) presents an important opportunity to review implementation of commitments made in the 48th session of the CSW (on women's equal participation in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace-building), and to raise the need for a better implementation and accountability framework (as well as the need to attach dedicated resources) for taking forward agreed conclusions.

Panelists noted that while much progress must still be made, there is lately a bit more space being opened for women’s representation in peace negotiations (as called for by SC Resolution 1325). For example, the International Conference for the Great Lakes set a precedent for women’s involvement at the level of the Secretariat of the Conference, to the point where the Secretariat of the Darfur-Darfur Consultation has requested gender expertise. As the space continues to open, additional capacity building is needed to prepare women in negotiation and alliance building skills. Panelists also highlighted the need to recognize the soft skills required for leadership positions in post-conflict enviroments, particularly empathy and listening skills – and to include these in terms of reference for leadership positions.

Sanam Anderlini (Author of Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters) noted that one reason for the lack of women at negotiation tables is that the international framework in which we operate is still one based on inter-state wars, which assumes that generals and political leaders are those who need to make the peace. The framework should be overhauled to reflect the present reality that the majority of the conflicts now are civil wars in which most of the victims are civilians. Especially this context, in which people often have to return to communities and face their neighbhors who have committed crimes against them during war, women are very present in maintaining islands of peace and keeping life going – and thus need to be involved in peace negotiations.

It was also highlighted that there is an information gap - we don’t have enough objective information on what is happening on the ground in women’s participation in peacebuilding. There is a need to collect and disseminate best practices on women’s sustainable participation in peace-building.

I would be very interested to hear from iKNOW Politics members who might be aware of good practices in women's participation in peace building process.

Haley Paige Horan

Global Network Facilitator
International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics