Women, Political Decision-Making, and Peace-Building

Women generally are excluded from political decision-making processes. This article describes UN attempts to establish more inclusive practices through the Beijing Platform for Action (1995). As shown by the Beijing +5 Review, progress for women is limited. Cultural stereotypes justify women's exclusion from negotiating tables. Thus the ground- breaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on 'Women, Peace and Security' is highly significant. Despite the fact that limitations to its implementation remain, women outside the UN play dynamic roles in peace-building in civil society. Consequently, they expand the parameters of peace-building unconventionally to include all processes that foster peace.