Securing the Peace: Guiding the International Community towards Women's Effective Participation throughout Peace Processes

The transition from war to peace opens a unique window of opportunity to address the root causes of conflict and transform institutions, structures and relationships within society. Increasingly, formal peace processes create a space for negotiation of deeper-rooted societal and political issues, such as post-war power-sharing; constitutional, electoral and legislative reform; disarmament and reinte- gration of combatants; and decisions relating to refugees and internally displaced persons. Ongoing support from a wide range of stakeholders is crucial to lasting peace and to the success of negotiated settlements in the fragile early post-conflict period.