Gender Mainstreaming in conflict Transformation: Building Sustainable Peace

Women and young people are often viewed as victims of conflict rather than decision-makers and actors in peace agreements, in conflict resolution and post-violence reconstruction initiatives. Containing contributions by Olara Otunnu, UN Under Secretary General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, and Kadi Sesay, Sierra Leone Minister of Trade, and drawing from the presentations at the Commonwealth Gender, Youth and Conflict Transformation Workshop held in 2002, this collection provides a forum for women, men and young people, to analyze and discuss strategies for conflict transformation in the Commonwealth in the following areas:

* Human rights violations
* The peace table and peace agreements
* International Criminal Tribunals, and Truth and Reconciliation Commissions
* Post-violence reconstruction
* Education for development and sustainable peace
* Increased representation of women and young people in political decision-making

In promoting an approach to conflict transformation that is multi-faceted, and that includes gender and youth, political, human rights and development perspectives, this book will contribute to building the capacity of Commonwealth countries to seek long-term solutions to violent conflict that address the structural causes, and involve the whole society including women and young people, whose participation is essential for achieving sustainable peace.