Conflict Prevention, Mediation, & Resolution
Since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in 2000, there is a growing body of evidence showing that women’s participation contributes not only to the conclusion of peace talks, but also to the implementation and sustainability of peace agreements. In fact, research has demonstrated that women’s participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 percent, and by 35 percent the probability of a peace agreement lasting 15 years.
Among other issues, women have been shown to consistently prioritize equitable access to natural resources, such as land and water, and more equitable benefit-sharing from extractive resource exploitation, as an important part of peace. This has important implications for sustaining the peace, as structural inequalities and grievances linked to natural resource rights, access, and control have proven to be powerful catalysts for violence.
Failing to engage women, women’s groups, and women's networks in peace negotiations and dialogue processes not only risks weakening how natural resource issues are addressed in the peace process, but can also seriously limit the potential for women to participate in natural resource governance, and to benefit from resource-related reforms – such as land reform – and resource-based economic development that follow during the peacebuilding process.
Many women around the world are actively engaged in brokering disputes over natural resources at the community and local levels, and as a result have critical experience in negotiating usage and benefit-sharing arrangements. However, structural barriers often prevent this experience from being used and capitalized upon in higher-level dialogue processes.
Targeted support is therefore needed not only to build the capacity of women’s networks and organizations to effectively engage in dialogue and mediation processes around natural resources and the environment, including in the context of a changing climate, but also to strengthen national capacities and support structures with a view to ensuring that women’s skills are put to use and their potential realized.
Key Resources
UN DPA Guidance on Gender and Inclusive Mediation
In 2013, when few formal mediation processes had effectively included women, the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) developed a curriculum based on interviews with…Natural Resources and Conflict: A Guide for Mediation Practitioners
This report bridges the gap between the technical and political aspects by providing a much needed conflict resolution framework for disputes that center on natural…Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict
The resurgence of violent conflict in recent years has caused immense human suffering, at enormous social and economic cost. Violent conflicts today have become complex…Remarks to Security Council on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: The Root Causes of Conflict – The Role of Natural Resources
The exploitation of natural resources, or competition over them, can and does lead to violent conflict. Preventing, managing and resolving such conflicts is one of the…United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325
The Security Council adopted resolution (S/RES/1325) on women and peace and security on 31 October 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in…
Resources
Women Building Peace
Briefs & Development
This volume looks back at a wealth of women’s peacebuilding practice documented by Accord since 1998. Case studies from Cambodia, Sierra Leone, northern Uganda, Papua…
Conflict, Land Dispossession, and the Struggle for Gender Equality in Cameroon
Blog
This interview with Lotsmart Fonjong is part of series of interviews by WILPF to reflect on the original research produced by the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace…
Health Equity and Gender Equality in a More Violent World
Blog
Violence and instability are rising around the world. Researchers recorded 2022 as the "deadliest year since the Rwandan genocide in 1994" and 2023 as experiencing the highest number of…
South Sudan: South Sudan Revenge Attack Sparked by Cattle Raid Kills 17
International
A revenge attack triggered by a cattle raid earlier this month has killed at least 17 people in northern South Sudan and forced oil workers…
Water: The Connection between Water, Data and Peace
International
WaPOR, which stands for Water Productivity through Open-access of Remotely-sensed derived data, is a tool created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United…
Honduras: Violence, Land Conflicts, Corruption and Impunity Defy Human Rights
International
Persistent violence, including gender-based violence, land conflicts and impunity are among the most serious human rights challenges in Honduras, the UN High Commissioner for Human…
Nigeria: Foundation Moves to Curb Impact of Climate Change, Insecurity in Northwest
International
Worried by the continued effects of climate change in the world and Nigeria in particular, the Building Blocks For Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) has launched a…
South Sudan: UN Says Conflict Fuels Food Insecurity in South Sudan
International
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday blamed the food insecurity situation in South Sudan on the lack of peace and conflict…
Legal Practitioner Engages Women on Their Roles in Peaceful coexistence in Plateau
International
Yitkyim Leah Datong has engaged about one hundred young women across communities of Plateau State towards contributing to sustainable peace in the State.
China/Philippines/South China Sea: Philippines to Explore Oil-Rich Waters amid China Tension: ‘It’s Quite Urgent That We Start Now’
International
The Philippines is building defence alliances with the US and other security partners to help pave the way for resource exploration in the oil-and-gas-rich…
Sustaining Gender: Natural Resource Management, Conflict Prevention, and the UN Sustaining Peace Agenda in Times of Climate Catastrophe
Library
Climate change and its potentially violent consequences for international peace and security have transformed the United Nations (UN) approach to Sustaining Peace. One of the…
Be a Man: A Theory of Climate Change, Masculinities and Violence
Briefs & Development
Experts increasingly agree that the impacts of climate change are likely to create new violent conflict risks and exacerbate existing ones. However, the extent of…
Women Leaders in Environmental Management
Briefs & Development
This book chapter explores the significant role of women leaders in environmental management and their impact on sustainable development. Historically, women have been underrepresented in…
Sahel: Climate Change, Conflict and Displacement across the Sahel
International
In a 2009 TED Talk with over 35 million views, Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speaks about the danger of a single story and the…
Women, Peace and Security: Opportunities to Respond to Climate and Environment Risks
Blog
A comprehensive approach to addressing the human security risks posed by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is needed – one that supports consideration across…
The Next Feminist Wave: Heat
International
The summer of 2023 featured some of the hottest days ever recorded. Feminists should be alarmed.
Climate change may not seem like a feminist issue on its face.…
Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurdistan Warns Gas Company of Deals with Iraq
International
The Kurdistan regional government's Ministry of Natural Resources has warned the United Arab Emirates-based energy firm Dana Gas against any agreement with the Iraqi government…
Gambia: Upper Nuimi Chief Warns against Farmer/Livestock Conflict
International
The Chief of Upper Niumi, Momodou Chatty Cham, has warned against the unleashing of cattle and sheep in farms as he expressed optimism for bumper harvests in this year’s cropping…
Food Insecurity Affects More Women Than Men, UN Report Says
International
The 2023 United Nations' State of food security and Nutrition in the World (Sofi) report has revealed that up to 783 million people around the…
Food Security: Recent Studies Support Dangerously Hungry’s Link Between Food Insecurity and Conflict
International
In April of this year, World Food Program USA launched a new report titled Dangerously Hungry: The Link Between Food Insecurity and Conflict. The report…
Climate and Gender at Center of Australian Aid Revamp in Indo-Pacific
International
SYDNEY — Australia will put climate change and gender at the heart of its international aid program in a policy revamp designed to compete with China's…
US and Pacific Islands Elevate Women’s Leadership in Climate Security in Two-day Workshop
International
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Office of Women, Peace & Security (WPS), the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and…
Iran/Kuwait: Iranian Envoy, Kuwaiti FM Discuss Disputed Oil Field
International
The credentials of newly-appointed Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Totonchi were presented to Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah al-Jaber al-Sabah on Thursday, according to…
In Central Asia, Female Leadership is Key to Climate and Drought Resilience
International
From potatoes grown in recycled sacks to “more crop per drop” fruit tree varieties, climate-smart and women-led agriculture initiatives became the center of discussions at…
The Climate-Conflict-Urban Migration Nexus: Honduras, Jordan, and Pakistan
Briefs & Development
In Honduras, chronic droughts and severe natural disasters, including hurricanes and landslides, increasingly drive rural migrants to cities, where chronic gang violence and a lack of…
Gendered Violence Martying Filipina Environmental Defenders
Briefs & Development
This article contributes to discussions of extractive violence by exploring how gender influences violent circumstances under which women were assassinated during environmental conflicts. Partnership with…
Strengthening Women Engagement in Post-conflict Peace-building in Northeast Nigeria: An Interrogation of the UN Resolution 1325
Briefs & Development
The activism towards increased engagement of women participation in peacebuilding process dates back to 1975, from the UN Women conference in Mexico, the 1980 Women…
Community Voices on Climate, Peace and Security: Kenya
Briefs & Development
This study conducted a participatory appraisal of climate vulnerabilities and conflict risks three communities across Kenya: 1) members of the Yiaku Indigenous Peoples in the…
Infographic: Climate Change, Conflict and Peace
Library
Our climate and environment is changing at a rate never seen before in human history. The way we respond to these changes has the potential…
Race, Ethnicity, and the Case for Intersectional Water Security
Briefs & Development
This Forum article reports on a meta-review of more than 19,000 published works on water security, of which less than 1 percent explicitly focus on…