Gender perspective in the making: The case of the Colombian peacebuilding process

Abstract

AbstractThe peace negotiation process between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC‐EP) is considered one of the most comprehensive peace agreements and is internationally acclaimed for being the first in history to have a gender perspective as a guiding principle. However, several institutions mandated to monitor the gender perspective have identified signs of stagnation in this perspective. As the peace agreement enters the second half of its 15‐year implementation period, this article uses a conflict resolution framework to understand what might be preventing a successful and timely implementation of a gender perspective in Colombia. Findings emerging from recent research suggest that conceptual, technical, political, financial and security hurdles sustain a violent and discriminatory system for women, ultimately impacting the effectiveness of the peace agreement.