Publications

Peacemaking in Asia and the Pacific: Women's participation, perspectives and priorities (Thai version)
13 March 2013 by the HD Centre

This concise publication, now available in Thai, explores the reasons for women's under-representation in peace processes, both in terms of participation in peace processes and gender content in agreements. With a focus on the Asia and the Pacific region, the publication puts forward the experiences of women from different Asian countries (Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Timor Leste, India, Solomon Islands, and Nepal), to highlight the benefits and obstacles to their participation in such processes, as well as practical recommendations on how to make international norms and women's expectations a reality in peacemaking. The publication also offers suggestions for those involved in peace processes on these issues as well as a set of annexes with a list of recommended resources; a shorthand explanation of key international standards related to women's rights; and a set of ‘pointers' for mediation teams on issues they should be focusing on. This publication was produced as part of the 'Women at the Peace Table - Asia Pacific' project, which brings together women active in peacemaking across the region to identify strategies for improving women's participation in peace processes.

Building Peace in 2013
11 February 2013 by the HD Centre

This publication consists of a series of reflection pieces from experienced mediators and policy-makers on what they see as the most pressing peacemaking challenges facing the world in 2013. It aims to serve as a resource for practitioners, stimulating debate on key issues and dilemmas surrounding mediation, challenging a number of prevailing views, and presenting new perspectives on international mediation. The publication draws on the expertise of several prominent peacemakers in the field including Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide; Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt; Head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in the Philippines, Teresita Quintos Deles; and Executive Director of the HD Centre, David Harland. In their reflections, the authors make specific proposals on who should have access to peace negotiations, how peace talks could be connected to wider processes of change, and what type of hybrid arrangements might help peacemakers resolve longstanding conflicts. The authors also discuss the advantages of keeping channels of communication open to a wide spectrum of actors in any given conflict.

Myanmar’s current peace processes: a new role for women?
17 December 2012 by Ja Nan Lahtaw & Nang Raw

This Opinion Piece takes a close look at women's contributions to and roles in Myanmar's current peace processes. The two authors identify in particular the difficulties women have had to overcome and often still face, to have their voices heard, and they also review the variety of ways in which women have continuously contributed to the country’s peace processes. They highlight particular ways in which women's contributions could help optimise new political dynamics such as interest in inclusion and representation, as well as helping to make the implementation of the Government's ‘peace road map' launched in 2011 more inclusive and aimed at just, sustainable peace in the country.

From clause to effect: including women’s rights and gender in peace agreements
07 December 2012 by HD Centre

International norms such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 which support women's contribution to peacemaking, are not yet well integrated in the drafting of peace agreement texts. Such texts continue to miss opportunities to include relevant language on women's rights and gender perspectives, and mediators and negotiators often lack the knowledge on how this might actually be achieved. The publication From clause to effect: including women's rights and gender in peace agreements examines six peace agreements from the Asia and Pacific region to identify how reference to women's rights and gender perspectives were included - or excluded - in those texts. The report focuses in particular on five recurring issues in peace processes - power sharing, security arrangements, access to justice, resource sharing, and the monitoring of agreements - and recommends alternative wording to improve the agreements' references to women's rights and gender perspectives.