Women at the Negotiating Table: Gender Inclusion and the Durability of Peace Agreements
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54741/SSJAR/6.2.2026.354Keywords:
women, peace and security (WPS), gender inclusion, peace negotiations, peace agreement durability, feminist peacebuilding, international peace processesAbstract
The inclusion of women in peace negotiations is a critical component of international peacebuilding processes in the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. However, women’s inclusion in peace negotiations is still low. This study seeks to explore the impact of gender inclusion in peace negotiations on the effectiveness and sustainability of international peace negotiations. This will be done through a systematic review of the literature, including a comparative case study of peace negotiations in Liberia, Nepal, and Colombia. The findings indicate that the meaningful involvement of women is linked to an expanded agenda in negotiations, robust social provisions in peace agreements, and the legitimacy of negotiated peace agreements. However, the paper also reveals that symbolic inclusion is not sufficient to produce these benefits. The findings conclude that gender inclusion is not just good in itself but is also good for peace agreements.
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