Women, peace and security

Abstract

Women play many roles in peace, security, conflict and disarmament. As civilians, their lives are often dramatically altered, their livelihoods and their rights imperiled, by conflict. As mothers and caregivers, they are often left to head households under harsh, sometimes unlivable, conditions. As breadwinners, they sometimes engage in the illicit trade of arms. As soldiers, they serve many functions, from combatants to cooks. As parliamentarians, they enact laws on security and arms-control policy. As civil society activists, they lobby Governments to increase security and build peace.