Strategies for Policymakers: Bringing Women into Peace Negotiations
Publication Date: October 2009
Authors: Michelle Page, Tobie Whitman, & Cecilia Anderson
As leaders in civil society, particularly during and following violent conflict, women are critical players in peace negotiations. In formal negotiations, they raise often-ignored political and social issues, ensure that the voices of victims and civilians are consistently heard, and build bridges among negotiating parties. They also have a solid record of successfully bringing together representatives of opposing factions in unofficial talks. Yet women remain the largest group of stakeholders regularly excluded from official negotiation processes.
In October 2000, the UN Security Council acknowledged in Resolution 1325 the importance of inclusion, mandating women’s full participation in peace building; few policymakers, however, know how to fulfill this obligation. This guide provides the international community with concrete strategies to successfully bring women into peace negotiations.
This publication presents concrete strategies for the international community to successfully bring women into peace negotiations, building on case studies of Darfur, Sudan; Guatemala; Northern Ireland; and Sri Lanka. (19 pages plus endnotes)
Top recommendations
These strategies increase women’s participation in peace negotiations.
(A complete list of recommendations can be found on page 4.)
1. Establish an advisory group or appoint a dedicated gender adviser in the office of the facilitator or mediator to enhance attention to the different needs and priorities of men and women.
2. Encourage and help create opportunities for women’s and other civil society organizations to have continual dialogue with negotiators and decision makers.
3. Guarantee equal funding to negotiators, mediators, and observers—regardless of their gender—for airfare, hotel, meals and incidental expenses.
4. As an incentive, offer negotiating teams extra seats at the table if filled by women.
About the Series
Strategies for Policymakers condenses a decade of research and direct input from leading peace builders into concise recommendations for ensuring the extensive involvement of women in peace processes. Each guide consists of a set of best practices highlighting policies and programs proven to increase women’s participation, as well as stories of countries that have shown these mechanisms better involve women in all stages of the peace-building process.
See other publications in this series.
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