The inclusion of women in the peacemaking process
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By Adeeb Yousif
The idea of this is to guide and provide an analysis of the impact of
female activism on peace building efforts and it will discuss the
effects of such activism on the ability to establish sustainable peace
in war-torn countries such as Sudan. The involvement of women in peace
building and post conflict reconstruction is a vital part of
establishing sustainable peace in Sudan, as well as in other war-torn
communities across the globe. Like many other women in the world,
Sudanese women are essential to the provision of care and support to
the family structure as well as the community at large. The ongoing
conflict in Sudan “has made the burden of women even heavier.”
(McFarland, 2001) “Many are charged with the sole responsibility of
caring for the entire family while their husbands are away at war or
after their husbands have been killed.” (McFarland, 2001) Women are
crucial to maintaining cohesion in the community, especially during
times of war and during the post-conflict period that follows.
Unfortunately, the women who live in these conflict zones continue to
be either excluded from formalized peace processes or they continue to
be minimally engaged in such processes. Consequently, it is imperative
that women’s groups and organizations become more heavily involved in
peace building efforts. Moreover, this project is aimed at building
the capacity of women so that they can be positive agents of change in
their communities.
Throughout the 60-years of Sudan’s independence it has been embroiled
in protracted civil conflicts for about 50 years. This conflict has
resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians,
widespread sexual assaults, the burning of villages and the
displacement of millions from their homes which has caused many to
live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps or refugee camps
with limited humanitarian services and poor security (Natsios, 2012).
In many conflict zones, including Darfur, women often pay a high
price. Oftentimes many women have been subjected to sexual violence,
including rape, abduction for the purposes of sexual exploitation,
indecent assault, sexual humiliation and serious injuries or killings
and displacement (Security Council, 2015). In addition to being
victimized by the aforementioned crimes, many women have assumed the
additional burden of being the sole providers for their families
because large portions of the male population have been killed in
battle.
Consequently, many women are forced to raise their children, provide
care for other family members and generate income without additional
support. Thus the family network is compromised, and many widows fall
into cycles of poverty. Despite the significant role that women have
played and are still playing to support their families and cope with
the detrimental ramifications of conflict, their intrinsic value in
the conflict resolution process continues to be marginalized. Although
some efforts have been made to include women in decision-making forums
regarding peace building; the Sudanese government and the
international community have to make more strides toward understanding
the inseparable link between gender equality and peace and security in
order for sustainable peace to be obtained in Darfur in the near
future.
An examination of female agency in the Darfur peace processes will
greatly contribute to an understanding of the plight of women living
in conflict zones, the ways in which they cope with such incredible
hardships and the various forms of political activism that are
utilized by these women to overcome their dire circumstances. Such a
study will highlight the need for more female agency in the political
processes of Sudan at the local, regional and national level.
Additionally, this study will augment current scholarship on women’s
culture because the “efforts of women’s civic organizations and how
women organize themselves within these organizations will be
addressed. This will provide further insight concerning female
perspectives pertaining to power and development” (McFarland, 2001).
The lack of women’s participation in conflict resolution forums
promotes the victimization of women through a culture of impunity and
gender inequality, which makes sustainable peace more difficult to
attain. Widespread gender bias and the perpetual violence that has
been committed against women, continues to prevent them from making
great strides as peace builders in war-torn communities. Women are
oftentimes excluded from participating in peace processes because they
have a much more inclusive approach to peace and security matters
rather than a “winner takes all approach” which is commonly adopted by
their male counterparts. Because women have a much more inclusive
approach to peace and security matters, the engagement of female
activists in conflict resolution processes will result in other social
and economic issues being addressed that would otherwise be ignored.
To examine the assumption mentioned above there is a need to consider
the following questions: How to empower women so that they can be
viable participants in the peace-making processes in Darfur as well as
in other parts of the country? How can current political institutions
and civic organizations in Darfur be more effective at
institutionalizing democratic processes by ensuring that women’s
voices are heard on a local, regional and national level? What needs
to be done to build a bridge between male decision makers and their
female counterparts? What can be done to change the stereotypic views
of women, which characterize them as victims? I think minimal or no
involvement of female agency in conflict resolution forums has an
adverse impact on the ability to attain sustainable peace in war-torn
regions such as Darfur, Sudan.
In order to achieve sustainable peace, women must be involved in all
stages of the peacemaking process, including participation in conflict
resolution forums and the restoration of justice. As a group
disproportionately affected by the conflict, and as victims of
widespread sexual violence, it is critical for women to be empowered
and available to other women and children that have experienced
trauma. The resilience, courage, and above all compassion that women
possess are necessary to the rebuilding of healthy communities.
Lasting peace requires an inclusive process that addresses the root
causes of the conflict as well as restoring communities that have been
ravaged by war. This conflict has permanently altered Sudanese
society, thrusting women into independence and new territory of
non-traditional roles. Women’s participation will also help transform
corrupted Sudanese institutions to democratic institutions and help
with laws that focus on rape as weapons of war and the recruitment and
use of youth as soldiers. Once a peace agreement is finally reached,
there is no guarantee for peace, making it critical that the proper
structures are put in place and there is a strong and inclusive civil
society.
Adeeb Yousif, is Doctoral Candidate in School for Conflict Analysis
and Resolution at George Mason University. He can be reached at:
[email protected]
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