Women's access to peace and conflict transformation processes is severely limited, even though UN Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" legally stipulates their participation. Peace processes offer critical windows of opportunity for the formal recognition of women's rights and for the elimination of discriminatory social structures and gender norms: important cornerstones for post-conflict transformative change. Women and marginalised groups must therefore play an active role in peace processes.

Through our programmes, we are committing to a peaceful, safe and gender-just world for all. Together with our project partners in countries affected by war and conflict, we advocate for the active participation of women in peace processes. We support the participation and political engagement of women, marginalised groups and civil society organisations in peacebuilding. Our programmes and projects emerge from our worldwide network of women peace activists and are oriented towards their needs and circumstances on the ground.

Women are particularly affected by armed conflict and violence. Yet they are often excluded from formal peace or transitional justice processes after a conflict has been resolved, even though they are strongly represented in civil society organisations that are committed to peaceful coexistence. Together with our partners, we are committed to ensuring women’s equal participation in shaping peace and conflict transformation processes.

Since the signing of the peace agreement in Colombia with the FARC-EP guerillas in 2016, we have been actively supporting the participation of conflict-affected women in its implementation. In our programme, we are committed to ensuring that their experiences and issues are included in the transition to a sustainable, peaceful society.

Women continue to live with the complex effects of the ten-year armed conflict that ended with a peace agreement in 2006. Yet, they were effectively excluded from the peace negotiations and their participation in transitional justice processes remains severely restricted. With our programme, we strengthen the agency of women and young people affected by the conflict and enable their access to political decision-makers so that they can hold the government accountable to finally deal with the violent past and its consequences.