The Role of Women in the Peace and Security Processes

Abstract

Imagine living in a society free of conflict, or a society where a woman's contribution in the society is appreciated, where men not only appreciate women who cook for them but also respect women who fought the war with them. A society where after independence, a woman is considered part of the liberation movement. That is exactly the society that an African woman perceives as a peaceful society and would like to see prevail. She envisions a society where she can freely live in harmony without being marginalized. It is that society where a woman is able to feed her children, having a safe home for her family or being able to send her daughter to school.

This aim of this paper is to elucidate on the various roles women play in the peace and security initiatives. It shows how extreme violence that women suffer during armed conflict does not arise solely out of the conditions of war; it is directly related to the violence that exists in women's lives during peacetime. Throughout the world, women experience violence whether physical, psychological and sexual because they are women, and often because they suffer the imbalances of power relations.

This essay explains the role of women in peace making initiatives, peacekeeping and peace building and the role of women as armed combatants. The essay also explains the regional and international instruments that guide women in Peace and security processes.

Keywords: women in peace and security initiatives, violence, peacemaking, peacekeeping, peace building