Somali refugee women in northern Kenya (Duncan Willets/Camerapix)

Women and girls are vulnerable to sexual violence, trafficking and mutilation, whether at home, in flight or in camps for displaced populations. The trauma for female victims of violence continues even when the conflict is over, as they are frequently shunned, ostracized and further stigmatized. However, recent trends driven by leading women scholars and activists tend to emphasize women's strengths not their vulnerability. Women play a prominent role in rebuilding war-torn societies and social resources. Women community leaders facilitate mediation and reconciliation, and constitute a primary force of immediate economic activity that is still under-examined and underutilized. In Colombia, Cambodia, East Timor, Guatemala, Liberia, Mozambique, Somalia and many other places, women have set examples for building peace across clans, political affiliations and ethnicity. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, such as Burundi, Guatemala and South Africa, women have not been present in formal peace negotiations. "Women were not invited to participate in the Dayton talks, even though during the conflict 40 women's associations remained organized and active across ethnic lines." The role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and peace building needs to be recognized and utilized at the local, national and international levels.

 

In October 2000, the Security Council unanimously adopted its first resolution on women and peace and security. The Council called for the prosecution of crimes against women, increased protection of women and girls during war, and ensuring that more women participate in decision-making in conflict resolution and peace processes. The resolution requests a report by the Secretary-General, now under preparation, on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building, the gender dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution, and progress on gender mainstreaming throughout peacekeeping missions.