Research into women’s contribution to peacebuilding

We have recently developed a research initiative that builds on 10 years’ work with women’s organisations in the Great Lakes and the outcomes of a major conference on women and peacebuilding in Africa that we held in 2000
(click here to download a report on this conference).

As well as being victims of war, women are often actively developing survival strategies at the community level, reconstructing communities that have been devastated by violence, lobbying belligerents to lay down their weapons and rehabilitating combatants. The documentation of women’s peacebuilding work has to date focused more on ‘celebrating’ their contributions to it rather than building adequate theory and knowledge around their practices and influence on public policy. Academic research on the subject is limited and does not accurately reflect the peacebuilding work that women do. Women often do not sufficiently value their own contributions. There has therefore been a lack of recognition and inclusion of women in official conflict resolution processes.

The research project will attempt to respond to the lack of adequate theory and knowledge around women’s peacebuilding in Africa through bringing together women researchers from African universities and research institutions to work with women peace activists in 10 countries (including countries in the Great Lakes region). Their findings will be published in a book to be used a resource for women’s peace organisations, and in advocacy aimed at influencing public policy.

Links

Read our report: Enhancing the Capacity of Women Leaders of Community Organisations to Contribute Towards Peacebuilding in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

For more information on women’s contribution to peacebuilding, see our pages on women and gender

For more information, contact Sylvie Pereira

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Last updated: March 2006