The Training for Peace programme's contribution to gender mainstreaming in Africa's peace operations

Abstract

Violent conflicts affect women, men, boys, girls, the young, the old and those from particular ethnic or religious groups in different ways. Gender, age and culture may influence the type of risk someone is vulnerable to, as well as their role in the conflict. These factors may also affect their coping mechanisms, their specific needs during post-conflict recovery and their roles in building peace. Peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts thus have a better chance of being effective if they are sensitive to these diversity issues. The ultimate goal of all peace efforts is a lasting, sustainable peace, and the use of a gender perspective represents a means to this end. Over the years, many policy frameworks globally, and particularly in Africa, have echoed and reflected a critical normative shift towards greater gender parity in peace processes.