From Africa Recovery, Vol.14#2 (July 2000), Watch page

BURUNDI
Women strengthen peace talks

In an important breakthrough for efforts to include women in peacemaking and nation-building, a panel of experts on gender issues from South Africa, Uganda, Eritrea and Guatemala briefed the parties to the Burundi peace talks on 23 June. The briefing, organized by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), was conducted at the request of the Burundi peace facilitation team, headed by former South African President Nelson Mandela. The panelists drew upon their experience in resolving conflicts in their home countries to emphasize the important role women can play in fashioning durable peace. In 1999 UNIFEM supported a successful effort by seven Burundian women to win permanent observer status at the ongoing negotiations, which have been held in Arusha, Tanzania, since 1998.

Ms. Ruth Perry, a member of Mr. Mandela's facilitation team and Liberia's transitional head of state in 1995-97, noted that initially the Burundian negotiators had "categorically refused to include women in the negotiations. This breakthrough must be given immediate support to develop a wider process of engaging women throughout Burundi on issues relating to their security, their inclusion and their human rights."

[Back to index] [To Volume14#2 -- full graphics]

Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with attribution to "Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.

Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA

Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org

Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org