This report shows that women’s inclusion and gender sensitivity in peace mediation are inseparable but not interchangeable. Understanding the difference between these two goals is key to developing targeted approaches to ensure that peace mediation processes not only consider a diversity of perspectives and enable the participation of underrepresented groups but also, critically, that the substantive outcome of peace mediation address the gendered legacies of conflict in order to build more equitable societies.
Two decades since its promulgation, many of the commitments enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security remain unrealized. This report focuses on the dual challenges of ensuring that formal mediation process are inclusive and gender sensitive. The report disentangles these key objectives, arguing that while inseparable, they are not in fact interchangeable.
Through a review of literature and interviews with seasoned practitioners and subject matter experts, the report focuses on how understanding the difference between women’s inclusion and gender sensitivity is crucial to developing targeted approaches to shape the processes and substantive outcomes of peace mediation. The report examines the role, strategies, tactics, and contributions of UN mediators and mediation advisers. The report also maps the emergence of women mediators networks, highlighting their potential in improving inclusive and gender-sensitive peace mediation as well as key challenges that persist.
The report concludes with a series of targeted recommendations for intergovernmental organizations, policymakers and government officials, donors, peace mediators and mediator networks, civil society organizations, and researchers, touching on areas of future engagement for each type of stakeholder and partnership between them.
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