Violence and extremism in South Asia, including potential threats posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), remain a concern for many regional and international observers. Three South Asian countries—Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India—are among those with the highest reported incidents of terrorism. Reports of foreign fighters from South Asia have prompted concerns […]
As the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) negotiate terms to end more than a half century of violence, a crucial issue is the future of the FARC’s 8,000 combatants, close to 40% of whom are female. For a peace agreement to result in enduring stability, former combatants must be meaningfully […]
The Taskforce on the Engagement of Women in Sudan and South Sudan drafted a joint statement during the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia January 22-31, 2015. They affirmed a common need to promote and advance collaboration amongst and between women in civil society and government, and across the two nations. While in Addis, Taskforce […]
In November 2014, Sudanese women wrote this position paper on how to ensure inclusion in Sudan’s National Dialogue. These recommendations were a direct response to a request from Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa and Chair of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel responsible for facilitating the process. The paper suggests specific structural […]
Since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, dozens of countries have created national policies—often known as national action plans or NAPs—to solidify their commitment to women, peace, and security. As these states strive for effective, impactful implementation of these plans, many, including the US, are embarking on a process of evaluating the impact […]
Ahead of the 2014 NATO Summit, the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) developed this document detailing how their government and the international community can ensure women’s rights and safety as NATO finishes its troop withdrawal. AWN consulted over 500 women in eight provinces to translate their concerns and priorities into these concrete recommendations, which address issues […]
In April 2014, 21 members of the Afghan Women’s Network gathered to discuss how to advance women’s inclusion in the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program. They returned to their provinces to consult women in their communities and provincial-level decision makers on the issue. In June, they reunited to create these recommendations for national and international […]
A delegation of four women from Pakistan traveled to Washington, DC, to deliver recommendations on reducing violent extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. Their recommendations aim to increase the recruitment, retention, and professionalization of women in Pakistan’s police forces; strengthen women’s inclusion in mechanisms setting Pakistan’s strategic priorities, such as the National Internal Security Policy (NISP), […]
Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies struggle to combat militant violence that contributes to political, economic, and social instability. To improve the operational effectiveness of Pakistani forces, the government of Pakistan and international donors must prioritize the recruitment, retention, and professionalization of women in the police. This policy brief summarizes research conducted in Pakistan in October 2013 […]
In late January 2014, 20 peacebuilders from Sudan and South Sudan (one man and 19 women), convened in Addis Ababa to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. These recommendations address gaps and/or deficiencies in the previously negotiated Cessation of Hostilities between South Sudan and opposition forces, the humanitarian response, and the peace […]
