The Challenges of Involving local Communities especially Women’s groups in Rebuilding Society

Abstract

More of today's conflict is replete with hostilities within states- intra state conflict as opposed to interstate conflict-hostilities across borders, owing to the need to own, control, resources by groups within a defined territory, ruled by a central government. Studies advanced that some women had fought along with women in some battles. But, usually in most conflict situations, while men are killed, women and children are the worst hit in the affected countries, during and after cessation of hostilities.( become widows, are forcefully abducted, raped, etcetera). Interestingly, they assume new roles, different from their traditionally assigned roles (private)-cooks, nurturers, and care givers and become bread winners (essentially, a role played by men), trying to fit into the Public sphere heavily dominated by men. In spite of the allowances of UN Resolution 1325,others; Patriarchy, Masculinity in the mold of cultural relativity, other factors had hampered the activities of women groups, some organized women networks in rebuilding conflict ridden societies in Africa, making unique contributions to peace initiatives domestically, in different African countries, globally unrecognized. The Colombian peace process is a recent example. Sustainable peace occur when women at the grassroots, and men agree to work, combine skillfully at bargaining tables.