Towards Gendered Peacebuilding Processes for Sustainable Peace

Abstract

In 2000, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 affirmed the importance of including women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes. Despite the existence of Security Council Resolution 1325, women continue to remain tokens in peacebuilding processes. There is need to have gendered peacebuilding process because it brings in new nuances and perspectives with regard to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. A gendered peacebuilding process counterbalances peace processes and policies that are influenced and informed by masculinity militarization. It also helps in formulating peacebuilding processes that are beyond masculinity and femininity lenses. A gendered peacebuilding process goes beyond the essentialist way of interpreting reality. More significantly, the inclusion of both femininity and masculinity perspectives creates a paradigm shift with regard to the use of languages and strategies employed in peacebuilding processes. A gendered peacebuilding approach contributes constructively to the achievement of responsive, inclusive, and sustainable peace because it draws from men’s and women’s experiences to address conflict issues that affect humanity.