A new report from Kvinna till Kvinna: Security on whose terms? If men and women were equal

This new report discusses the connection between development, security and women's rights. When women are insecure or threatened and have limited freedom of movement they cannot participate in peace and democracy work on the same conditions as men. Therefore women's lack of security is in itself a threat to peace.

To get sustainable peace both women and men have to be involved in the peace process. Still there are very few women represented in peace negotiations and in politics in countries affected by conflict and war.

This unequal power balance is caused by the fact that women's rights are not respected. Women's rights are restricted in many different ways: Women often do not have access to secure healthcare, women are exposed to sexual violence, or simply: women's freedom of speech and movement gets restricted in societies dominated by men.

Even the presence of the international community in conflict areas can limit women's freedom. Women are dependent on support and information from the international community but their needs often get neglected. To ensure that women and girls do not get exposed to violence they are kept at home.

The international community often accepts this set up, instead of trying to accomplish secure ways to school, work or meetings.

This report is partly based on the outcome of a seminar held in Stockholm in October 2004: Rethink! A seminar for sustainable peace.

For more information please visit: http://www.iktk.se/english/index.html