Women’s active involvement and engagement plays a vital role in keeping peace in the world. They can transcend the boundaries of nationality, religion, class and socio-economic background to influence peace-building process.
Traditional practices carry more weight and has long term influence on people’s mind. Women’s involvement in peace-building is as old as their experience of violence. Women have played a variety of roles throughout history that support war and other forms of violence, from warrior to battlefield. However, their gender identities allow them to do some peace building that men cannot do.
Communities that use all the talents, experience and wisdom of both men and women are more capable to address the needs of their members and the society. If women are excluded from participating in community decisions and leadership or are so busy with household responsibilities that they do not have time to go to community meetings, then the talents, experiences and wisdom of half of the population will not contribute fully to community life.
Women have crucial position in a society, determining kinship bonds and ties. However, their engagement in formal peace process and political arena should not be limited .All the inclusion of women in peace-building process has gained momentum in policy discussions over the past few years, which is encouraging. The number of women in decision level is relatively small which is not enough. It’s like half a loaf is better than none. Peace-building in the world is the foundation for creating sustainable human security and equitable development in countries across the world.
A major challenge is that women are often not perceived to have the skills, knowledge or social status needed to bring about change in post conflict environment which is wrong. Women are capable to play a role in bridging clan and divisions and acting as mediators. For instance, the cases of Liberia and Somalia show some of the different approaches and ways in which women have been involved in peace process.
In every field, whether it is business, or it is politics, wherever, in any decision making level, good presence of women is required to have a holistic influence. They are not just women; they are the ones who are capable of bearing children, nurturing them, inculcating them with proper informal education before they go to school. They are the carers who look after the whole family, and are the mediators when any dispute or quarrel take place in the family and sort them out with not only wisdom but also with love and understanding. They have an amazing quality to sacrifice for the well being of others.
In conclusion I must say that, given the opportunities, women can undertake the responsibility to extend peace to the people worldwide by spreading the light of love, dignity and values in whichever field they choose as their profession.
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