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		All Academic Inc.
		ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES
		Political Research Online

Document Type:	PDF
Page count:	35
Word count:	2971
Text sample:
Women and Peace Processes: Contributions from Gender Studies and  Peace studies By Julie Mertus and Tazreena Sajjad  American University  Introductory note: This paper is being submitted for the panel on “Bridging the   Theoretical Divides: A Multi­Disciplinary Approach to Issues of Peace and Conflict.”  It   contributes an example of scholarship drawing gender studies into peace studies. This   paper is a book chapter draft.  It is not for citation without permission.   Email:   meretus@american.edu The term “peace process” refers to political processes and strategies for resolving conflict through  peaceful means. The first image one might have of “peace processes” is that of official representatives of  warring factions and third party interlocutors sitting around a table  airing concerns with the ultimate goal of  hashing out a peace agreement that will put an end to hostilities.   Diplomacy and formal peace  negotiations are critical elements of peace processes  however a much broader array of actors and actions  are implicated by this term.  The first stage of peace processes1  ­­ peacemaking 2  ­­­ does refer to  attempts to end hostilities through “negotiation  mediation  and dialogue in both official and unofficial  arenas." 3   However  the second stage of  peace processes  commonly termed “peacebuilding” or “conflict  transformation ”4 encompasses much broader attempts to shape  more peaceful futures through the design  of new political institutions which repair relationships and support democratic processes and the  implementation of human rights guarantees.5  This chapter considers the gendered nature of both  peacemaking and peacebuilding and identifies possibilities and limitations for addressing gender inequities  and for advancing women’s role in the full range of peace activities.  1 In many parts of the world  women are leading nonviolent movements for societal transformation  and conflict prevention; they come together from all backgrounds and across conflict lines to promote  peace  are flexible and adaptable in their efforts to formulate new strategies to continue their work to  prevent violence  and draw on their traditional roles as mothers and social peacemakers to protest  oppressive regimes and raise warning signs of potential violence.6  While women’s grassroots peacework  (“Tier II” work) is often undervalued by state decision­makers  women’s attempts to break into formal  sphere (“Tier I” work) has traditionally  been even more overlooked. As a result  despite considerable  progress on women’s participation in peacework  the vast majority of women’s voices go unheard during  formal processes  including: peace negotiations  disarmament  demobilization and reintegration (DDR)   constitution­creation  elections  reconstruction  rehabilitation  truth and reconciliation  and judicial system  reconstruction.7  This chapter explores the possibilities and limitations of greater involvement of women in peace  processes through an analysis of five commonly held “myths”: (i) the notion that peace processes are  “gender neutral” and that women are implicitly included; (ii) the belief that women’s “natural” role is in  peacebuilding activities in the informal sector; (iii) the assertion that  even if it is not “naturally” ordained   women choose informal activities; (iv) the allegation    that peace can be promoted without the inclusion of women; (v) the contention that no international  obligations exist requiring the United Nations and individual states to include  women in peace processes.  While the general tone of this exploration is optimistic  the final analysis  is  cautious. The inclusion of women in peace processes  and the use of peace processes to address gender  inequalities  is not cause for celebration  the authors conclude  if women are simply being drawn into an  2
Working Group Resolution 1325: One Year On October 2001 http://www.peacewomen.org/un/UN1325/since1325.html and NGO Working Group Resolution 1325: Two Years On October 31 2002 http://www.peacewomen.org/un/UN1325/NGOreport.html. 80 MADRE “Promising Democracy Imposing Theocracy: Gender-Based Violence and the War in Iraq ” http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2007/0306madrereport.pdf 81 See Working Group on Women Peace and Security “Women’s Participation and Gende4r Perspectives in Security Council Resolutions: Checklist” undated) http://www.peacewomen.org/un/ngoadvocacy/1325Tools/checklist.pdf 82 This is drawn from the helpful Women Peace and Security Web site: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/UN1325/whoswho_un.html#Friends1325