An examination of the role of women in negotiation processes in Southern Sudan: a case of the 2005 Machakos/Naivasha peace process

Abstract

This dissertation contends that despite bearing the highest brunt of violence, it is imprecise to relegate all women to the status of victims of war and conflict. Consequently the study argues that women deserve a place at the table, actively involved in decision-making processes to, ensure peaceful coexistence within their environments. It. is on this background that this study investigates the main contributions of women to negotiation processes by examining the case of the Machakos and Naivasha peace processes.

These processes were conducted by use of track one and a half because both state and non state actors participated as the Sudan conflict was internal. It is important therefore to engender and even increase the participation of women in both tracks not only . due to the increasing attention within governmental and non-governmental circles to merge the two tracks but also due to enabling accurate evaluation of the contributions of women in decision-making.

The main findings of the study was that peace agreements, post-conflict reconstruction and governance can do better when women are involved but the challenges they embrace are immense. In essence, the study established that women who were involved in the Machakos and Naivasha peace processes contributed considerably to the CPA agreement despite the substantial challenges they were faced with. They continue to be instrumental in the implementation of the Agreement.