Consultations: Generating Platforms for Advocacy

"One of the most helpful experiences I have had in the past years was working with Inclusive Security. I improved my understanding of the importance of women leading peace processes, as well as having decision-making roles in democracy. Since working with Inclusive Security I have introduced two laws to empower women’s rights in Colombia. The first law provided resources to women victims of domestic violence. I also convened meetings of women victims of violence in small towns so that they could receive medical care. Still there is so much to work on. Inclusive Security for me was the starting point."
— Gina Parody, Former Senator of Colombia and member of the Women Waging Peace Network

Our consultations convene women peace builders in conflict-affected areas to generate comprehensive strategies to promote women's inclusion in their own context. Since 1999, Inclusive Security has facilitated consultations for women peace builders from conflict areas including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, Haiti, Iraq, Israel & Palestine, Jordan, Liberia, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Rwanda, and Sudan.

The primary goal of our consultations is to provide women with the skills and knowledge necessary to exercise leadership at the local, national, and international levels. We integrate both peace and security knowledge and skills development into our workshops to encourage women to advocate for a greater role in peace processes, thereby increasing their capacity as decision makers. Our approach is inclusive; we aim to convene a broad constituency of actors from across conflict lines.

Consultations hone women peace builders' skills to advocate, build coalitions, craft messages, plan strategically, and generate comprehensive strategies for change. We design our workshops to stimulate action; recommendations developed during these unique strategic consultations will be used later as an advocacy platform for participants.

Please contact our training staff to discuss how a consultation could help advance women's advocacy in conflict-affected areas.

Examples of consultations and resulting recommendations

Uganda
In September 2008, Inclusive Security convened the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association and women civil society leaders in Kampala, Uganda to develop recommendations for the Peace, Recovery, and Development Plan for Northern Uganda’s implementation.

Sudan
Inclusive Security collaborated with the government of Norway and UNIFEM to bring Sudanese women and members of the Sudanese diaspora to Oslo for the 2008 Sudan Consortium in May 2008.

Afghanistan
A week-long consultation in Kabul in September 2007 with 25 Afghan women leaders from the government, the National Assembly, and civil society was convened to develop recommendations for increasing women’s engagement in security.