As the UN Security Council hosts its annual Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Open Debate, the GPS Centre is proud to share an important contribution to advancing gender equality in peace processes. Co-authored by PRIO researcher Júlia Palik and Hana Salama from UNIDIR, the article 'Challenging the Invisibility of Women Combatants: Five Steps Towards Gender-Responsive DDR' addresses the persistent exclusion of women combatants from disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs.
The article sheds light on the often-overlooked role of women combatants in armed conflicts and proposes actionable steps to ensure their inclusion in DDR processes. It highlights that despite women making up a significant percentage of non-state armed groups, their needs and experiences are often ignored in DDR programs. This exclusion not only undermines the effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts but also perpetuates gender inequalities in post-conflict societies. The article further identifies five practical steps to ensure that DDR programs better include and support women combatants:
- Involve women in peace talks and DDR negotiations
- Explicitly mention women combatants in DDR provisions
- Involve gender experts in DDR teams
- Adopt gender-responsive budgeting
- Address masculinities in DDR programs
As the 25th anniversary of the WPS agenda approaches in 2025, this publication urges policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to prioritize the inclusion of women combatants. As seen in these five steps, addressing the unique challenges faced by women combatants - including stigma, lack of representation, and the risk of sexual violence - gender-responsive DDR can contribute to sustainable and inclusive peace.
The full article can be found here.
