Peace processes:
Women's access to peace processes is severely limited, even though UN Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" legally stipulates their participation. Peace processes offer critical windows of opportunity for the formal recognition of women's rights and for the elimination of discriminatory social structures and gender norms: important cornerstones for post-conflict transformative change. Women and women's organisations must play an active role in peace processes.
In 2000, the UN Security Council reaffirmed, through UN Resolution 1325 and subsequent follow-up resolutions, that women have a right to participate in peace processes. However, their access to decision-making processes and the possibility of demanding their rights in peace processes are still severely limited.
The experiences, knowledge and concerns of women who are directly affected by armed conflict are thus barely taken into account in the construction of a new social order. This further cements exclusionary and discriminatory societal structures.
Peace processes as an opportunity
Peace processes also offer an opportunity to promote the formal recognition of women's rights and to challenge prevailing gender norms. Civil society, feminist and women's organisations can use this critical window of opportunity to address the inequalities and injustices that lead to conflict.
Addressing the root causes of conflict requires not only dealing with the past, but also a comprehensive societal transformation. In peace processes, institutions, structures, procedures, normative and legal foundations are renegotiated and rebuilt. We support women's and feminist organisations in actively participating in and shaping just peace.
What are peace processes?
We use a graphic representation to illustrate the stages of peace processes and how women exert influence at each stage. This tool highlights the role women play in driving peace processes forward and preventing setbacks.
Find out more with our tool "Understanding peace processes".