Interview on the inclusion of women in peace processes.

1. Women as participants

Research shows that the presence of women at the negotiation table promotes collaboration and a focus on issues essential for post-conflict stabilization and transformation. 

Inclusion based on quotas instead of capacity leads to women folding into the dominant agenda and a diminished willingness to voice their concerns. Qualifications and representativity are therefore essential to their effectiveness. Participation should account for the double-burden experienced by many women who must often juggled their social responsibilities while being fully present in a peace process. Economic and educational disadvantages as well as representativity of a very diverse female constituency must also be taken into account to ensure that equitable access to the negotiation and feedback to their community increases broad buy-in.

2.  Women as mediators

There is an intentional movement at the grassroots-level to hire women, even in male-dominated conflict spaces, to ensure authenticity with gender-mainstreaming policies. 

At the track-I level, male domination is still the norm in spite of policy advances. However, women are being included in the mediator's or special envoy’s team where they play a supportive role, providing analysis, guidance, and recommendation to a peace process.

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Cartoon by ARKAR AND FLD (9 December 2014), Ethnic Peace Resources Project (EPRP)