Women and girls fought on both sides of Sierra Leone’s civil war. Although large numbers of women said they were gang-pressed into performing support functions for armed groups, many also fought or received weapons training. Sierra Leone’s national disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program frequently excluded women and girls. Many female ex-combatants, however, returned to […]
The Wilson Center and Inclusive Security, along with the World Bank and the American Bar Association, hosted 20 women in Washington, DC for the conference “Building a New Iraq: Women’s Role in Reconstruction.” The results of their visit, summarized in this report, include a series of findings and conclusions to ensure that women play a […]
Nine years after the end of the 1994 genocide, Rwanda still faces challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and HIV/AIDS. However, the country has made strides toward establishing a democratic society. Having made several important contributions to their country’s political system, women are at the forefront of post-genocide Rwandan public life. They are present in government […]
The crucial role women can—and should—play in Iraqi reconstruction was the focus of a forum on April 21 and 22, 2003 in Washington, DC. Discussion focused on the inclusion of women in four vital sectors of Iraqi administration: democracy and governance, economic activity, constitutional law and legislation, and civil society. The report presents key findings […]
On September 12, 2002, the Wilson Center and Inclusive Security co-sponsored a conference, “More Than Victims: The Role of Women in Conflict Prevention.” The aim of the meeting was to move beyond the stereotypical images of women as victims in conflict and to explore their complex experiences as fighters, peace builders, survivors, and protectors. While […]
