“Women’s Participation in Peace Negotiations: Discourse in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”

Peacebuilding Equality Democracy

Women play a critical role in peace processes. Yet from Dayton to Colombia, and from East Timor to Pretoria, women have either been absent or grossly under-represented in diplomatic peace negotiations at which peace accords have been signed and the future of countries decided. Formal peace negotiations generally bring together the male leaders of the warring parties who engage in a series of facilitated talks to end conflict and to lay the foundation for the reconstruction of political, legal, economic and social structures. However, the process of reconstructing the nation following an armed conflict requires the equal involvement of men and women.