MAXIMIZING WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONFLICT PREVENTION

Washington, DC—Women worldwide are spearheading local and national programs to prevent conflict—efforts that are critical to promoting nonviolence and democratic values. In order to capitalize on women’s contributions, it’s imperative that the international community strengthens and enhances their support of women—support that is currently elusive and intangible. This week, hundreds of civil society representatives from around the world will gather at the United Nations (UN) to help change the way the international community deals with conflict—moving from reaction to prevention—and to increase equality and inclusiveness of women in its efforts to promote peace.

“Conflict Prevention and Transformation: Women’s Vital Contributions,” the latest cutting-edge report on women’s peace building efforts from Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace (Waging), finds that women are actively preventing and stemming violence on the ground, but are hampered by a lack of consistent and direct assistance from the international community.

The report shows how women across the globe have continued to form networks and lead non-violent movements despite limited international resources and intimidation tactics by authoritarian regimes. In 1994, 3,000 mothers from various Northeast Indian tribes launched a campaign to promote reconciliation between Naga and non-Naga communities. Across the Indian Ocean, 90 women from 10 provinces in Burundi formed the network Dushirehamwe, meaning “Let's Reconcile.” The network worked with approximately 9,000 women at the community and provincial levels through trust building and dialogue activities.

“Venezuelan women have emerged as leaders, and despite attempts by the state to intimidate them, they continue challenging the status quo and the current regime,” says Alexandra Belandia Ruizpineda, Venezuelan democracy activist.

The report calls on civil society, governments, regional organizations, and multilateral institutions to partner with women’s groups to prevent:

In some cases, the UN and civil society recognize women’s conflict prevention efforts - either logistically or financially. But, in order to improve overall effectiveness, the international community must: (1) Increase the number of women participating in conflict prevention design and implementation, (2) Provide capacity building and training opportunities for women's groups and women activists, (3) Designate funding to women's organizations working on conflict prevention, nonviolent democratic movements, and peace building, and (4) Improve documentation, dissemination of information, and public awareness about women's efforts. For more information on this report, please refer to www.womenwagingpeace.net.

Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace
Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace (Waging), an initiative of Hunt Alternatives Fund, advocates for the full participation of all stakeholders, especially women, in peace processes around the world. Waging is conducting a series of case studies to document women’s contributions to peace processes across conflict areas worldwide, from Rwanda to Colombia. The cases studies are available online at: www.womenwagingpeace.net.

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