More Than Victims: The Role of Women in Conflict Zones

Abstract

. Although women and children are not directly involved in the armed conflict, many victims have been found in this group. In conflict, the role of women is underutilized and even underestimated in conflict prevention, maintenance, and peacebuilding. When the conflict occurs, women play an essential role in conflict management, both as mediators, mediators, and peacemakers, to become the last bastion of conflict victims seeking safety and protection. This paper aims to describe the role of women in conflict areas in carrying out the conflict resolution process. The study was conducted using a literature review technique utilizing most existing written materials, including selected academic sources and documents prepared by various related institutions related to internal and international conflicts. In conflict that occur in various parts of the world, women participate in the four stages of conflict resolution, namely preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding. Preventive diplomacy is an effort to prevent disputes from turning into conflicts, increasing the level of conflict intensity between conflicting groups, and expanding conflict zones if they have occurred. The role of women in Iraq, Burundi, and Kenya illustrates women's involvement in preventive diplomacy. The peacekeeping stage mark by the process of stopping or reducing acts of violence. The role of women's groups in Liberia to end the civil war and overthrow the Liberian dictator from the presidency marks women participation in the peacekeeping. Meanwhile, peacemaking aims to bring together or reconcile the political attitudes and strategies of the conflicting parties through mediation, negotiation, or arbitration from the elite or leader level. This role was exemplified by women's groups in Aceh and Ambon through intentional and unintentional conflict reconciliation. The last stage, namely peacebuilding, is marked by various efforts to create lasting peace. This stage marked by the contribution of Rwandan women in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process after the 1994 genocide.