Women have often led the call for peace in conflict-torn societies. Let us re...

Women have often led the call for peace in conflict-torn societies. Let us recall the example of Liberia, whose grass-roots women's organizations had a direct and visible impact on peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. The activism of those groups on behalf of the welfare of the average citizen helped to break the impasse produced by leaders of warring factions in the struggle for political dominance. However, to do that, those Liberian women had to travel to Accra, Ghana, and demonstrate outside the seat of negotiations. Women should not have to go to such great lengths to be heard.