African Women in Peace Building
Keywords:
Africa, women, war, conflict resolution, peace building
Abstract
African nations have been ravaged by conflict, resulting in destabilization, displacement, and infrastructural destruction, all of which have gender-specific consequences. The impact of conflict on African women has been severe. In Africa, for example, an estimated 70% of Africa refugees are women and children. This paper examines African women and peace building. It addresses how Africa women have performed important roles as peace negotiators and peace educators in both families and society. However, women today have been relegated to the background in peace building processes, which can in part explain why we have largely failed in this direction. This paper used the historical approach and applied the radical feminism theory to guide the work. The paper identifies women’s needs that must be met to stimulate involvement in peace building and to enact well-informed planning, policymaking, and action to build a culture of peace in Africa. Finally, the paper suggests ideas to integrate a gender perspective into conflict resolution and peace building efforts so that African women’s voices can be heard.
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2. Agbalajobi, D. T. (2019). “The role of African women in peace building and conflict resolution: The case of Africa”. Article 9. Retrieved on the 2nd of September, 2021 from https://www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/the-role-of-african-women-in-peace building-and-conflict-resolution-the-case-of-Africa.pdf.
3. Ball, J. (2018). Women development and peace building in Africa. Springer.
4. Butler, J. (1999). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.
5. Call, C. T. (2008). “Building state to build peace? A critical analysis”. Journal of peace-building and development 4, No. 2.
6. Canadian International Development Agency (2002). “Peacebuilding initiative strategic framework”. Retrieved on the 2nd of September, 2021 from
7. Chesler, P. (2005). Women and madness. Palgrave Macmillan.
8. Chitando, A. (2020). Women and peace building in Africa. Routledge.
9. Echols, A. (1989).Daring to be bad: Radical feminism in America 1967-1975.University of Minnesota Press.
10. Efemini, A. (2005). “Peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region: Rethinking the oil companies and academic cooperation”. A mimeo.
11. El-Bushra, J. (2000). “Transformation conflict: Some thoughts on a gendered understanding of conflict processes”. In S. Jacobs, R. Jacobson, and J. Marchbank (Eds.), States of conflicts: Gender violence and resistance. Zed.
12. Good, C. V. and Scates, D. E. (1954). METHODS OF RESEARCH: EDUCATIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
13. Laue, J. H. (1991). “Combinations of the emerging field of conflict resolution” in T. Scott et al (Eds.), Approaches to peace. United States Institute of Peace.
14. Gamble, S. (ed) (2001). The Routledge companion to feminism and post-feminism. Routledge.
15. Hendricks, C. (2009). Women and peace building in Africa. Springer.
16. Jobarteh, N. (2017). The inclusion of women in peace building in West Africa. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
17. Miller, B., Pournik, M. andSwaine, M. (2014). Women in peace and security through United Nations Security Resolution 1325: Literature review, content analysis of national action plans, andimplementation.Washington: The George Washington University.
18. Moeini. S. (2014). Approaches to identify research gaps and generate research questions. Retrieved on the 1st of September, 2021 from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140912150946-275561203-6-very-useful-approaches to-identify-research-gaps-and-generate-research-questions.
19. Moulton, S. (2020). “Peace-building: Definitions and strategies”. Retrieved on the 2nd of September, 2021 from https://study.com/academy/lesson/peace-building-definition strategies.html.
20. Mpangala, G.P. (2004). Origin of political conflict and peace building in the Great Lakes region. Paper presented at the symposium "Ramifications of Instability in the Great Lakes Zones", organized by the Command and Staff College, Arusha, Africa, February 23.
21. Muyangwa, T. M. M. (2020). The state and peace building in Africa. Springer Nature.
22. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (2005). Report from the expert seminar: Women in conflict prevention and crisis management. Vienna: Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE in co-operation with Folke Bernadotte Academy.
23. Rashid, I. and Niang, A. (2020). Researching peace building in Africa. Routledge.
24. Sukhia, S. P.,Mehrotra, P. V. andMehrotra, R. N. (1974). Elements of Educational Research. New Delhi: Allied Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
25. Tschirgi, N. (2004). “Post-conflict peace-building revisited: Achievements, limitations, and challenges”. WSP International/IPA Policy Report, 9.
26. United Nations, Impact of Armed Conflict on Children (1996). “Report of GraçaMachel, Expert of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Selected Highlights)”. p. 7. Retrieved on the 1st of September, 2021 from (DPI/1834-96-22765-October 1996-5M).
27. United Nations Secretary General. (2010). “Women’s participation in peace building”. United Nations. Retrievedon the 3rd of September, 2021 from http://www.unwomen.org/en/docs/2010/9/women-in-peacebuilding-report-2010.
28. Wallensteen, P. and Sollenberg, M. (1998). “Armed conflict and regional conflict complexes, 1989 97”. Journal of peace research, vol. 35, no. 5, pp.621-634.
29. Williams, A. A. (2000). “World flying apart? Violent nationalist conflict and the end of the Cold War”. Journal of peace research, Vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 105-11.
30. Willis, E. (1984). “Radical feminism and feminist radicalism.” Collected in No more nice girls: Counter-cultural essays.Wesleyan University Press.
31. Zerilli, L. M. G. (2005). Feminism and the abyss of freedom. University of Chicago Press.
Published
2022-10-19
How to Cite
[1]
Levi, D.O.E. 2022. African Women in Peace Building. International Journal on Integrated Education. 5, 10 (Oct. 2022), 131-144. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17605/ijie.v5i10.3565.
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