Women Mediators across the Commonwealth

Peace processes that involve women are more likely to last. We are supporting a new network of women mediators to increase the participation of women in peace processes and mediation at a local, national, and global level.

Negotiating peace in Ethiopia

Navigating inclusion in peace transitions

Based on analysis of four contexts (Nepal, Nigeria, the Somali Region of Ethiopia (Ogaden) and Colombia) this report explores how inclusion is negotiated in peace processes and associated avenues for resolving conflict and effecting political change. This research examines how change is perceived by those living in conflict-affected contexts, and strategies used by different groups to influence political change.

Gendered political settlements

Based on analysis of three contexts (Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, Nepal and Colombia) this report explores how gender inclusion – meaningful participation at all levels of decision making, regardless of a person’s gender identity – is negotiated in elite-led peace processes and political settlements in conflict-affected contexts, and how international and national actors can support it effectively.

Processing peace in Afghanistan

This Accord spotlight summarises discussions from a workshop to explore priorities for peace in Afghanistan. It looks at six key themes; peacemaking in perspective, terminology, inclusion, understanding divisions, re-centring the regional stage and processing peace.

Gender in political transition: Bougainville's peace process

Women’s civil society activism in Bougainville has not always been well reflected in decision-making processes; however the political transition following the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001 has provided opportunities for greater inclusion. This report explores how gender dynamics shape decision-making, power and influence in Bougainville, in particular how formal and customary structures impact inclusion. It also looks at the approaches and strategies Bougainvillean women have used to increase their agency and influence within formal, faith and customary institutions.

Peace, power and inclusive change in Nepal

This new Accord spotlight report tracks some of the ways in which inclusion has progressed through post-war transition in Nepal: how power is administered, what 
inclusion means and how it has been applied politically,
 and how change has happened – through formal and informal channels, as well as the continuing role of violence.

Indigenous women and Colombia's peace process

This report explores the historic experience of indigenous women in Colombia – a group usually absent from political decision-making processes – and how formal and customary institutions impact their inclusion in Colombia’s political settlement. It charts the emergence of different pathways for change for indigenous women, including the evolution of women’s engagement in the Colombian peace process as well as the inclusion of gender and ethnic minority issues in negotiations. The report looks at how the peace process is an opportunity for indigenous women to play a key role in peacebuilding and the reconfiguration of the political settlement in Colombia.

Gender and Nepal's transition from war

This report reflects discussions from a gender workshop held in Nepal, which explored gender relations, equality and Nepal’s transition from war. Focus areas include: affirmative gender action in the transition, gender perspectives on security sector reform, access to justice and political participation; gendered perspectives of marginalised groups, and how different identities intersect. A short case study of the period of intense political change that followed the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal provides an illustrative, contemporary example of opportunities and challenges.

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