Women representatives and their constituencies: Building support for a more durable peace
The interaction between women representatives and their own communities is one reason why women’s inclusion is seen to lead to more durable peace agreements. In this episode of CMI’s Peace Talks, we discuss concrete strategies to build linkages between these two.
Digitalisation and the rise of different social movements from Sudan to Iraq underline the need to make peace processes more democratic. In this context, ideas about how women representatives at official peace tables and their own communities can work together to advance peace remain strikingly unexplored.
The topic is important, as the linkages between women representatives and their constituencies are one reason why women’s inclusion is seen to lead to more durable peace agreements.
The latest episode of CMI’s Peace Talks discusses concrete strategies to build these linkages. The podcast focuses on the Middle East and North Africa, where there are many intractable, long-lasting conflicts and women’s participation in peace processes remains limited.
During the podcast, Heba Zayyan, the Head of UN Women Sub-office in Gaza, and Kawkab Al-Thaibani, the co-founder of the Women for Yemen network, share their experiences on constituency building from Palestine and Yemen. They are joined by Dr Catherine Turner, Associate Professor at the Durham Law School.
The podcast is part of a global conference that UN Women and CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation are co-hosting. The conference takes takes place online from 7 to 27 July 2021, and is entitled Gender-Inclusive Peace Processes: Strengthening Women’s Meaningful Participation through Constituency Building.
In CMI’s Peace Talks we look at the world through peacemaking lenses. We have conversations with both our own and other top experts on what it takes to build lasting peace amidst the volatile world situation. In the wise words of our founder, Nobel Peace Laureate Martti Ahtisaari, we believe that all conflicts can be resolved. This podcast is about how to do it.
Guests
Heba Zayyan, the Head of UN Women Sub-office in Gaza; Kawkab Al-Thaibani, the co-founder of the Women for Yemen network; Dr Catherine Turner, Associate Professor at the Durham Law School.
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Recorded: June 22, 2021
Edited: CMI’s Communications Officer Olli Puumalainen
Host: CMI’s Communications Manager Antti Ämmälä
Jingle: Jukka Backlund
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CMI’s Peace Talks available on: Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts and iTunes.