Women in mediation and conflict resolutions: Lessons, challenges, and prospects for Africa.

Abstract

Over the past decades, women have been involved in mediation and conflict resolution processes. However, their roles remain largely undervalued and unrecognized in this processes. In spite of this, women devise all manner of strategies within their reach to resolve conflicts and bring about peaceful coexistence. This paper uses Somalia and Kenya women's case studies to expose various strategies used by women in mediation and conflict resolutions. The use of poetry and the 'spitting' initiatives were important strategies and processes used by these women to effectively mediate and return their disputant societies back to peace. The major gaps identified by their strategies were; the non-inclusion of women's needs in peace processes, and inadequate lobbying by women in the implementation of treaties that affects them. The paper recommends amongst others, aggressive sensitization of stakeholders at all levels to appreciate women's involvement in conflict resolution processes, increased training of women mediators and negotiators to help strengthen women's involvement at all levels of mediation and conflict resolution processes.