Peace is more than the absence of war. Patriarchal power relations, structural violence and physical or psychological violence against women are also obstacles on the path to lasting peace. This is why we are committed to peacebuilding with a feminist, intersectional perspective. And because our understanding of peace is comprehensive.

Prevailing peace and security policies define security as a national goal to be achieved through the military and policing. Such a view of security disregards the multiple causes of war and armed conflict, contributes nothing to the genuine security of women and marginalised groups, and leads to a further militarisation of society. This process of increasing militarisation is accompanied by increased surveillance. Both foster structural, psychological and physical violence, which in turn prevents lasting peace.

Positive peace

Patriarchal power relations and (post-)colonial forms of rule, poverty, racial exclusion, political and economic disadvantage are among the causes of war and armed conflict.

Security is therefore more than the absence of war: it also includes economic security, political participation and access to essential social resources such as education, health, social security and public space.

In this positive understanding, peace is based on justice, non-violence and respect for human rights.

Feminist practice

Feminist peacebuilding means working for transformative, structural change. We reject all violence and the militarisation of civilian spheres. Instead, we strengthen feminist perspectives and approaches that focus on everyday security, especially that of women and girls.

This also means creating good conditions for care work, because this is the basic prerequisite for non-violent social relations.

We see women as actors who make an important contribution to peace in various roles. Therefore:

• We promote networking and the exchange of peace activists through our network.

• We strengthen civil society engagement and the participation of women and marginalised groups in peace processes through our programmes.

• In our political work, we actively advocate demilitarisation, human rights and gender justice.