Recognizing the value and need to channel equitable resources to local women’s peacebuilding organizations (WPBOs) have been constant stipulations of the value of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda since its inception at the turn of the 21st century. From the United Nations to its 193 member states, the desire and intent to support such organizations has increased over the years. But the chasm between donors’ good intentions and their political, financial, and administrative constraints has hampered the flow of funds to the grassroots women who need them the most.
Despite 20 years of policy, practice, and evidence of impact, there is still a persistent gap in recognition of, support to, and protection for women peacebuilders. This brief distills and builds on decades of women peacebuilders’ experiences navigating the dangers women peacebuilders face to provide an overview of the contextual factors and realities that create and exacerbate their insecurity. It then presents the range and sources of threats, analyzes the strengths of and gaps in existing protection mechanisms, and concludes with operational guidance for states and multilateral institutions to protect women peacebuilders.
Drawing on two decades of desk and primary research and interviews, policy development, and experiences in advocacy and Track One mediation practices, “Recognizing Women Peacebuilders: Critical Actors in Effective Peacemaking”, delves into the motivations and factors that propel women to become peacebuilders in the face of violence and conflict and the activities they engage in that bridge the local and the global arenas.
The brief explores how the lexicon and labels in the policy arena hinder or help women’s greater inclusion in peace processes, and factors that capture the complexity and commonality of WPBs’ experiences in relation to and distinct from other forms of socio-political activism.
ICAN’s 2019 Annual Report is here!
Producing it in the midst of the pandemic felt like reminiscing over distant memories. But it was a reminder of how much our team and our partners achieved. We consolidated our programs and sustained our dual focus on advancing global policies on women, peace and security, and sustaining local women’s peace work. This dual strategy enabled us to pivot quickly to address the additional challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
I’m privileged to work with a dedicated and professional team and a supportive board. The trust of our peacebuilding partners in WASL and those of our financial partners internationally is humbling. Together they inspire and enable us to do our work while remaining creative and cutting edge.
Click here for more details and highlights of our breakfast with the UN’s Secretary General and annual forum with HRH the Countess of Wessex, and H.E Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Norway’s Foreign Minister.
Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE
Drawing on work with PAIMAN in Pakistan, this paper, written by WASL Partner and PAIMAN co-founder Mossarat Qadeem for the LSE Center for Women, Peace and Security, shows how women at various levels of Pakistani society can advance the cause for a more robust strategy on P/CVE.
