Women’s Experiences in Armed Conflict Situations and Involvement in Peace building Processes

Women are pillars of peace and for centuries they have been actively involved in efforts to make peace, resolve conflicts and work for reconciliation in their communities. Their  informal approach  to transform  communities  does not only  hold societies together  but  goes  a long way  towards  strengthening peace in the community.

Women are deeply affected by conflicts and wars which they have little or no role in creating; they are causalities of all the atrocities that take place during war. They make up the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons the world over. Talk of rampant gender based violence, sex based crimes where their bodies have become the battle grounds. This violence goes largely unacknowledged and unpunished even after armed conflict is over because women are always absent from peace negotiations.

In response to lack of women's voices at peace negotiating tables, Isis-Womens International Cross Cultural Exchange(Isis-WICCE) a global women’s human rights organisation based in Africa, that is committed to fairness, equality and justice in all human relationships took it upon itself to create a space where women from countries affected by armed conflict are trained and equipped with knowledge and skills in peace building, conflict analysis and transformation. This has enabled women to participate in informal peace building processes and consequently formal peace processes.

Isis-WICCE started the 2007/8 International Exchange Programme Institute on the theme of ‘Human Rights, Human Security and Participation: Documenting Women’s Experiences in Situations of Armed Conflict’. The first phase was held in Monrovia, Liberia from 15 – 26 October 2007, where 38 women human rights activists from 19 Countries participated. During the second phase of the Institute participants implemented their plans of action on documenting women’s experience in armed conflict. 

The third phase of the institute will be held in Monrovia, Liberia from 13 -24 October 2008 where women will also undergo two weeks of intensive training in peace building, conflict analysis and transformation. The purpose of this training is to create a critical mass of women that will influence policy change and decisions in peace negotiations and agreements.