Claiming space: Reconfiguring women's roles in post-conflict situations

This paper argues for the use of institutional frameworks to include women in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and post conflict reconstruction

This paper argues for the use of existing institutional frameworks to include women in peace negotiations, peacebuilding and post conflict reconstruction efforts. Instruments developed by, for example, the UN and AU acknowledge that women have a right not only to representation on structures concerned with peace, but also to equality with men in other spheres. These instruments need to be domesticated and popularised at the local level for they do provide opportunities for innovative reconstitution of the societies.

About the author

Karin Koen has worked as a researcher in the non-government sector and has covered areas such as women and mainstreaming, and women in local government. Her primary focus area, however, is children in difficult circumstances. She has done work in the areas of children in domestic work, child sexual exploitation and trafficking in children.