The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

Shukria Dini concludes her report with the statement that there have
been a number of opportunities at which it would have been possible
to end the conflict, but that they have repeatedly been missed. She says
that instead of addressing the roots of the conflict and the social, cultural
and economic facts as a point of departure for peace-building and the
reconstruction of state structures, solutions on the basis of military action
have always been sought. These approaches have unfortunately
also been pursued by the international community – and they have always
failed. She calls for an alternative peace-building approach.
� “There is need to move away from a top-down, male-dominated
and militaristic approach and start relying on non-militaristic, participatory,
gender-inclusive, bottom-up approaches, which will heal the
deep wounds of the war and address the immediate needs of the
population. I argue that the current approach is undemocratic and
relies on military force ,which not only exacerbates the insecurity
of the war-affected population, but also prolongs the violence.”
(Report, p. 150).
� “Somali women’s experiences, particularly their new identities as
the primary providers and their important contribution to peacebuilding
and recovery, needs to be recognized, valued and supported
by both national and international institutions.”
(Report, p. 151)
� “Somalia desperately needs genuine and continuous support from
the international community. ... Resolution of the protracted conflict
in Somalia will require a new mind-set and engagement which
moves away from the project and piecemeal mentality, to a holistic,
genuine and solid approach, so that the scourge of the protracted
violence in Somalia can be tackled successfully. The people
of Somalia must also be provided with the opportunity to reconcile.”
(Report, p. 151).
� “Somalis must be at the front seat of the reconciliation process.”
(Report, p. 151)
� “If and when the firing dies down, there will be a need to address
the traumas caused by the conflict. Currently, ‘forgive and forget’
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