• Governance and political participation

Governance and political participation

The experiences of Liberian women have much to teach the world about women’s role in peacebuilding. Not only were women strategic in influencing Liberia’s 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, but Liberia also boasts the first elected woman head of state on the African continent. This report examines the role of women in the implementation of international peace and security instruments through a case study of transitional justice mechanisms in the Liberian context.

The author shows how women’s groups who crafted the Golden Tulip Declaration of 2003 articulating women’s demands for peace made direct reference to Security Council Resolution (SRC) 1325. While Liberian women have seen much progress in terms of their representation in the public realm, questions remain over how to utilise SCR 1325 to address the gross human rights violations committed during the country’s 14-year civil war. The author considers the extent to which women participated in and benefited from transitional justice processes that establish the truth about past human rights violations. The document examines whether women demand accountability for them, and support reforms to ensure such violations are not repeated. Recommendations include:

• more support for personnel working for Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• the development of an urgent reparation programme
• support for the development of community based schemes for women’s protection
• strengthening the criminal justice system to enable it to address past human rights abuses
• international organisations improve inter-organisational coordination, help to make valuable information
• international organisations must improve inter-organisational coordination, help to make valuable information accessible to partners in the field, and conduct research more collaboratively with local women.
  

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