Women are not only victims of conflicts but powerful agents for peace and sec...

Women are not only victims of conflicts but powerful agents for peace and security. Therefore, the empowerment of women to fulfil this potential is of the utmost importance. The system of granting microcredits to women has proved successful within the context of development cooperation. Empowering women would also help in security sector reform as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes. Women need to be included in peace negotiations and in decision-making processes for rebuilding countries and societies after they have been torn apart by war. Only by including the gender perspective in these efforts can a thorough, sustainable and all-inclusive peace be achieved.