For women’s full participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding

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Why?
- Women and armed conflict
  Women are in many ways affected differently by war and post-conflict than men. To understand why a gender-equal approach is necessary in peace processes, you need to understand women's situation.
- About the site
  Equal power - Lasting peace is part of a project by The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation to promote women's right to total participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as stated in UNSCR 1325.
- Resolution 1325
  Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security was adopted by the UN in 2000. It marks the first time that the Security Council recognized the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, and states women's equal right to participation in peace processes.
- Resolution 1820
  UN Security Council Resolution 1820 from 2008, marks the first time that sexual violence was recognized as a matter of international peace and security. It was followed by Resolutions 1888 and 1960.
- Other policy documents
  There are several important international agreements that led up to the UN resolutions on women’s right to equal power and full participation in peacebuilding. Two of them are CEDAW and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
What to do?
- For policymakers
  Politicians and international actors are vital in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. But what can you do to contribute to women's right to participation? And where to start?
- For activists
  Do you find it shocking that so little has been done to secure women’s equal participation in peace processes? And do you want to do something about it? Take action!
Five conflicts
- Liberia
  Women's organizations in Liberia were the driving force behind the signing of a peace agreement, but strong patriarchal values upholds discrimination and violence.
- DR Congo
  In the Democratic Republic of Congo sexual violence as part of the conflicts has severly maimed tens of thousands of women.
- Iraq
  In Iraq the constitution forbids discrimination of women, but religious courts constantly discard women's rights.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
  The gender-neutral peace accords and following constitution for Bosnia-Herzegovina has made it hard for women to get their rights officially protected.
- Nagorno Karabakh
  The conflict of Nagorno Karabakh has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Women’s organizations monitor the rights of IDP and refugee women and provide training to help them on the job market.
News archive
Resources
The report

Rethink! Handbook for Sustainable Peace (2009)

Rethink! Handbook for Sustainable Peace (2009)

The handbook highlights the connection between sustainable development towards peace, and women’s participation in the peace and decision-making processes.

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