20 May 2013

Women and Peace Building Project SEUPB.jpg

Women have played an important part in building peace in conflict areas across the globe.

UN Security Council resolution 1325 recognises this, benchmarking the role of women in the “prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction” the world over.

The Women and Peace Building Project is a cross-border initiative, supported by the Special EU Programmes Body, which will distil and disseminate learning from the Northern Ireland peace process.

The objectives of this project include:

  • A process of facilitated reflection which will be used to build the self confidence and knowledge of community based women across the North/South region.
  • Expanding the awareness of the range of peace building approaches and strategies by sharing experiences with other conflict zones. A series of work shops will be held in the last two years of teh project. 
  • Production of a tool kit on Women and Peace Building - developing practical approaches that will be circulated through the Foundations for Peace Network. 
  • Production of a policy report on gender and peace building which will be made available by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Conflict Resolution Unit, the Northern Ireland Assembly's Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and the UK 's Department for International Development. 
  • Develop networking links between international women in conflict zones who are working for peace and reconciliation and with a focus on future connections between the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, the Women's Resource and Development Agency and the National Women's Council of Ireland. 


An expert advisory panel has been assembled to direct the work of the project, headed by Professor Monica McWilliams, former Human Rights Commissioner for Northern Ireland, from the Department of Social Policy at the University of Ulster. 

Now underway, more information on the project can be recieved by emailing info@communityfoundationni.org