Gender

Gender refers to socially constructed characteristics, norms, behaviours and roles associated with different gender identities. As a social construct, gender varies across societies and changes over time. Gender also operates as a system of power that shapes how individuals experience and express their gender, producing inequalities that intersect with other forms of discrimination. Understanding gender relations is therefore essential for analysing power dynamics in any given social, political or conflict-affected context.

See also: Inclusivity, Participation, Peacebuilding

Inclusive peace is not a luxury, but a precondition for sustainable peace. A growing body of evidence shows that peace processes are more successful and durable when they are designed to be inclusive. The inclusion of diverse actors allows, for example, to build confidence in the process, hold signatories to a peace agreement accountable, and secure broader support and acceptance for the implementation of an agreement.

Moving from this broader notion of inclusion to its more specific dimensions, it is essential to examine how gendered power relations shape who is included and whose experiences and needs are prioritised in conflict transformation processes.

Understanding gendered power dynamics enables us to identify, address and transform the root causes that fuel structural violence and gender-driven conflict. Gender identities shape our experience of peace and violence in profound ways. In conflict settings, categories such as “male”, “female” or “queer” influence individuals’ behaviours, opportunities, risks and needs. Women and LGBTQI+ people, for instance, are disproportionately affected by conflict as they are more likely to experience sexual and gender-based violence. The experiences of men are equally shaped by gender norms, for example when they are restricted from fleeing violence to be drafted into the military, or when they engage in violence or armed conflict in an effort to prove their masculinity.

At Berghof, we therefore take a systemic and gender-responsive approach to conflict transformation. We look beyond the visible effects of a conflict and analyse the norms, institutions and power structures that shape social, economic and political systems, often enabling and perpetuating systems of discrimination and privilege, when designing our programming. We also examine and address gendered dynamics in the conflict and society at large to ensure our peacebuilding interventions are gender-responsive yet do no harm. How exactly gender-responsive programming looks like will vary depending on the context.

Recognising how conflict affects people across multiple and intersecting identity markers, such as age, gender identity, class, education, sexual orientation, or religion, Berghof advocates for expanding the Women Peace and Security (WPS) architecture to allow for inclusion and active participation of marginalised actors in building peace.

Women in non-state armed groups, or peaceful protest movements, or women who act as faith-based insider mediators in their communities, women who take part in National Dialogue processes, or who are activists in LGBTQI+ groups are often overlooked and excluded from peace processes. Yet, including these groups offers significant potential. These actors often have unique access to diverse groups of society and bring critical knowledge and perspectives to peace processes that help to uncover root causes of conflict, reflect the lived realities of affected communities, and help preventing violence from reoccurring in the future.

In our work, we therefore seek to facilitate the meaningful participation of underrepresented actors, supporting them to play meaningful roles in peace processes, as effective negotiators, decision makers, peace leaders and bridge-builders. We do this by capacity- and skills-strengthening, and by engaging with local power-brokers, national leaders and the international peacebuilding policy community to help structurally widen the space for inclusive participation. This engagement can take place at formal peace tables, in National Dialogue processes, or within grassroots pro-democracy or peace movements. Strengthening the influence of marginalised groups in peace processes often requires working with gatekeepers and power-holders that actively work to restrict access to these spaces.

In Myanmar, Colombia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Lebanon, Berghof works to strengthen the capacities of women within underrepresented groups, including non-state armed groups and peaceful protest movements. Through combining peer-learning exchange and tailored trainings, we support them to play meaningful roles during ongoing or stalled negotiations and act as effective negotiators or decision-makers within their society.

In post-conflict settings, we advocate for gender-transformative approaches to transitional justice. This means ensuring that processes addressing past violence and human rights violations consider the specific needs of different groups of society.

In parallel, we engage closely with the WPS policy community to promote peace and security policies or national action plans that reflect both the specific needs and the contributions of marginalised groups like women ex-combatants or LGTBQI+ communities. We develop practical policy recommendations, organise policy workshops. We also facilitate exchange between policymakers and marginalised actors in order to identify concrete pathways for more inclusive and effective peacebuilding.

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