Latin American experiences of gender, conflict, and building sustainable peace : challenges for Colombia

The report brings together the knowledge, and practice presented at the Conference on Latin American Experiences of Gender, Conflict, and Building Sustainable Peace, and, on the Challenges for Colombia. The Conference had two objectives: 1) to better understand the gender aspects within the nature of conflict, and post-conflict reconstruction for peace in Latin America; and, 2) to identify practical initiatives at the policy, program, and project levels to build peace during, and after conflict. The gender causes, costs, and consequences of violence, and conflict are still frequently marginalized in international and national debates concerning violence, and conflict resolution. The conference focused on six different themes: the gender nature and impacts of conflict; diversity of gender, age, ethnicity, and geography in conflict and peace; gender issues in displacement; the effects of conflict on ex-combatants, and women's organizations; the participation of women in peace processes; and, gender, justice, and reconciliation. It concluded with an overall consensus concerning: a) the women's movement in Colombia needs to unite, and develop a holistic project for peace; and, b) women, with diverse faces and voices, needs and capabilities, must be accepted into the process of conflict resolution, and peace building - to ensure the construction of an equitable, democratic, pluralistic and, above all, sustainable peace. The report describes the different presentations, highlighting discussions and recommendations from each session it presents a brief background on the genesis of the Conference, and then discusses each theme, to then finalize with the provision of recommendations.