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Snap Plaza 8th floor, Bole Next to The Millennium hall. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Course Description:

Although women play varied roles in conflict and conflict resolution, their contributions are often not adequately acknowledged. Conflict prevention processes, management and post-conflict outcomes can significantly be improved through the inclusion and participation of women in peace processes. Women, however, are mostly excluded from formal peace processes, which negatively impacts outcomes of peace processes. Nilson (2012)1 , through a statistical study, demonstrates that the participation of civil society groups, including women groups, increases the durability of peace outcomes noting that peace agreements are 64 percent less likely to fail. This notwithstanding, it is documented that “between 1992 and 2019, women constituted, on average, 13 percent of negotiators, 6 percent of mediators, and 6 percent of signatories in major peace processes around the world“ .

The participation of women remains woefully low, and women continue to face a myriad of challenges finding space in participating in peace processes. A cursory look into some of the landmark declarations and resolutions on women points to a stark reality of disparity between the aspirations of those declarations and resolutions. For instance, it has been 42 years since the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was made, 38 years since the United Nations Declaration on the Participation of Women in Promoting International Peace and Cooperation and 21 years since the passing of Resolution 1325. Yet, despite these remarkable declarations, we continue to witness that women’s participation in peace processes remains an unfulfilled aspiration on the women peace and security agenda.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 has been ground-breaking because it explicitly addresses the impact of war on women and calls for women's full and equal participation in peace processes. Since its declaration, the discourse on and participation of women have gained currency. However, more needs to be done to remove the barriers that hinder women’s participation in peace processes, be it at the community, national, regional, or global level, and these efforts must be concerted.

At the regional level, the Africa Union has been making a studious effort to ensure the participation of women in peace processes. The Africa Union has committed to enhancing the role of women in mediation through FemWise-Africa3 , which aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts. Such networks provide a platform for women to enter the domain of male-dominated peacebuilding spheres.

While many policy frameworks have been developed to support women in peace processes, their implementation has been challenging. Therefore it is important to move beyond institutionalisation – norms promulgation - towards achieving the actual inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes. It is imperative to bridge the gap between the structures created and the reality on the ground to increase the participation of women in mediation processes. By addressing the structural and deeply rooted socio-cultural difficulties hindering the inclusion of women in peace processes, institutions (like the UN and AU) and states can lessen the challenge of gender equality and inclusive peace.

The short course on “Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding Processes” will introduce participants to the role of women in peacebuilding.

Course Requirements:

Applicants must have:

 At least five years of work experience in the fields of peace, security and development, democracy and governance issues, or related fields;

 A minimum of a first degree; and

 Good command of the English language, which is the medium of instruction

Posted:
01.18.2022
Deadline:
01.18.2023
Course Category:
Education
Education
Course Type:
Week Days Working Hours
Week Days Working Hours
Course Price:
5 5
Location:
Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa
Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS)

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