The Connection between the Inclusion of Women and Sustainable Peace Through the Lens of Theory, Policy and Practice

Abstract

As an international non-profit organization working in emerging democracies and post conflict countries around the world for over 12 years, Women’s Campaign International (WCI) has significant experience that demonstrates a strong link between the presence of women in leadership positions in post-conflict societies and the assurance of long-term peace. Based on WCI’s understanding that an investment in women’s leadership is essential to ensure peace and security for the future, this symposium will be devoted to an exploration of our anecdotal evidence and experiences, as well as a comprehensive review of current and growing academic literature that addresses this topic. This discussion will involve a thorough assessment of best-case practices shared among local, national, and international Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations as well as local and national government bodies. The objective of this symposium is to generate concrete evidence and open up dialogue about the undeniable correlation between the number of women in the decision-making process and the establishment of long-term stability and peace in post-conflict countries, through the lens of theory, policy, and practice. Three panelists will discuss the ways in which theory, policy and practice inform one another and complement each other to create sustainable change in the area of women and post conflict development. This evidence provides the basis for why governments should invest in the promotion of women’s leadership in all sectors of society. This symposium will cover five major areas in which women’s leadership contributes to peace including; civic engagement, peace keeping, community development, political processes and rule of law.