It remains out of donors' reach and almost invisible in the media, increasing during and after disasters as already fragile structures of law and order break down.

But does this mean African women are always helpless, voiceless victims in places of conflict?

The women activists said “gender specific views” on the need to improve the quality of education for children, the protection of women in conflicts and the need to improve the health of African women, were not strongly reflected in this year's Summit theme, “Shared Values.”

With Laurent Gbagbo drawing much of his support from the largely Christian south and Alassane Ouattara strongly associated with the predominantly Muslim north, the polarization has also taken on a religious dimension.

Liberia's nomination for the award is the fourth since 2005, when Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade and former South African President Thabo Mbeki were named its first recipients.

The following year the award went to Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and in 2010 GIMAC picked Mozambican President Armando Guebuza for the same award.

Accordingly, President Ellen Johnson was selected for the 2011 award, becoming the first woman president to receive the award since the regional body started to honour African leaders for their gender activities, locally and regionally.

The Somali government should direct new expertise and funding toward existing Somali reconciliation initiatives, women-led peacebuilding efforts, UN rule of law and security trainers, and local coast guard forces who have been working with far too few resources. Instead, the government is bringing into a crowded conflict a new, expensive breed of Somali gunman, the Western contractor.

The United Nations is making progress in its efforts to incorporate women into its conflict mediation activities – but much more still needs to be done.

Women have gained a stronger role in the peace process with the help of advocacy groups, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles.

When Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki introduced what he called a national partnership government two weeks ago, he included allies and adversaries, Arabs and Kurds, Shiite Muslims and Sunnis. One group, however, was woefully underrepresented.

A Northern Ireland politician is travelling to Iraq to pass on lessons learned in the peace process.

But Dawn Purvis said she also hopes to learn from the experience of the people of the war-torn country.

The independent MLA, former leader of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party, said Northern Ireland still had a lot to learn on breaking down barriers in its own society.