THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN PEACE BUILDING IN PUNTLAND, SOMALIA.

Abstract

Peace building has become increasing important as a means of preventing continuing hostilities among previously warring factions. However, peace building strategies or designs have not fully recognized the particular needs of women and have not acknowledged the significance of women’s contributions to peace building in war tom communities. In Somalia, women responded to this marginalization by initiating unique peace building mechanisms and making space for themselves during the process of rebuilding. This report will therefore look at the role women in Puntland play in peace building framework including security, governance, relief and development and reconciliation. It will further look at the traditional peace building effort taken by women and the importance of women during peace building, and outlining some of the concerns, problems and limitations that plague the peace building process in the post-war setting. It then turns to an examination of women’s role in peace building in one case study, namely Galkayo, Bosaso and Garowe of Puntland region of Somalia. The study is significant because it will demonstrate the integral role women play in the peace building process in Somalia. While marginalized from traditional peace building processes, women’s experiences and knowledge of building peace in post-conflict have the potential to contribute to and improve a more inclusive peace building design that may result in increased effectiveness for future operations.