Page 139 - CONFERENCE BOOK OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER, CULTURE AND SOCIETY (ICGCS) 2021

CONFERENCE PROGRAM AND ICGCS 2021

ABSTRACT BOOK

Gender, Conflict and Peace

More than Victims: Women in Conflict and Peace

Anita Afriani Sinulingga

Universitas Andalas

Although the intensity of war between countries has decreased, civil wars have doubled in at least the last

two decades. Although women and children are not directly involved in the conflict, many victims have
been found in this group. The growing view assumes that women cannot participate in political life, and

women's distrust of their ability to deal with stigma or social pressures makes women rarely involved in the
conflict resolution process. The capacity of women in conflict is underutilized and even underestimated in
conflict prevention, maintenance, and peacebuilding. When the conflict occurs, women play an essential

role in conflict management, both as mediators, mediators, and peacemakers, to become the last bastion
of conflict victims seeking safety and protection. Using a literature review technique by utilizing most of

the existing written materials, including selected academic sources and documents prepared by various
relevant institutions related to internal and international conflicts, this paper aims to describe the role of
women in conflict areas in carrying out conflict resolution processes. In cases of conflict that occur in

various parts of the world, women participate in the four stages of conflict resolution, namely preventive
diplomacy, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding. Preventive diplomacy is an effort to prevent

disputes from turning into conflicts, increasing the level of conflict intensity between conflicting groups
and expanding conflict zones if they have occurred. The role of women can be see through the

representation of women in Iraq. This women's group builds relationships with international donors to
develop change plans and long-term projects. In addition to partnering with donor agencies, the agency is

also working with religious leaders in Iraq. This agency in Iraq seeks to carry out diplomacy or negotiations
to resolve problems before the conflict begins. Another practice demonstrated by the Burundian Women's
Peace Conference, a women's group in Burundi that has been fully encouraged by Nelson Mandela.

Through its presence in government institutions of 30%, this institution prepares regulations that protect
the interests of women and children after the civil war in Burundi, and stated in the Arusha Peace Accord.

Another example presented by women in Marsabit, Kenya by playing a role in water resource
management when people's access to water is minimal. The peacekeeping stage mark by the process of

stopping or reducing acts of violence. Women's leadership characterizes this chapter in Liberia from the
grassroots level to the presidency, who played a crucial role in rights-based national reforms and the

election of President Johnson Sirleaf. This group of women helped the peace process in Liberia to end the
second civil war and overthrow the Liberian dictator, Charles Taylor. Meanwhile, peacemaking aims to
bring together or reconcile the political attitudes and strategies of the conflicting parties through

mediation, negotiation, or arbitration from the elite or leader level. For example, in early 2000, when Aceh,
Indonesia was still in a conflict situation, 450 Acehnese women gathered to discuss the Duek Pakat Inong

Aceh (DPIA) and produced 22 recommendations to ensure a peaceful settlement the Aceh conflict
through the negotiating table. Meanwhile, in the Ambon conflict, the role of women in conflict

reconciliation was intentional in the form of the Women Care Movement (GPP) activity and unintentional
through the activities of women traders Papalele in Baku-Bae market, Mardika, Ambon. The last stage,

namely peacebuilding, is marked by various efforts to create lasting peace. After the 1994 genocide,
Rwandan women contributed to the rehabilitation and reconstruction process initiated and promoted by
the government by constructing houses in the newly established locality-based settlements known as

imidugudu.

Keywords: The role of women; conflict zones; conflict resolution; agents of peace

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