This handbook is designed for women peace activists and women leaders. Its purpose is to empower women leaders and women peace activists by giving them the necessary tools that will not only promote and increase their effective participation in the peace processes, but equip them with the information and techniques to train other women peace activists.
This publication was originally conceived by UN Women under the UN Women Centering Women and their priorities in Myanmar’s Peace Process: Implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution and Related Resolutions 1325, and has been made possible through funding from the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The participation of women-led civil society groups and the need to address the different needs of women and men in relief, recovery, and post-conflict efforts were key motivating factors for the advocates behind the resolution.
In the following 20 years, nine further resolutions of the UN Security Council have called for greater and more effective participation of women in conflict mediation processes; for the inclusion of dedicated gender expertise in all peace-making efforts; for the specific needs and concerns of women and girls to be addressed; and for the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence. The participation of women in mediation processes and the gender sensitivity of peace agreements have increased only slowly.
Women’s effective participation at every stage of the peace process is the only way for a sustainable peace to be achieved. To promote the role of women in peace, their needs and concerns must be identified at the community level.
Modules
- Module One: Conflict, Peace and Security
- Description: Module one introduces basic definitions of conflict, peace and security.
- Objective of the module: After completing this module, participants will be able to identify basic concepts of conflict, peace and security which can be applied in their real-world context.
- Duration: 360 Minutes / 6 hours
- Module Two: Women and Peace
- Objective of the module: After completing this module, the participants will better understand the concepts related to gender and peacebuilding; it discusses the role of the UN and the Security Council; existing international and local mechanisms related to Women, peace and security and the role of women in peacebuilding in Myanmar.
- Duration: 360 minutes
- Module Three: Women in Leadership
- Objective of the module: This module examines women and leadership: the importance of gender equality on leadership; women participation in leadership roles; and women leadership in emergency situations.
- Duration: 345 minutes
- Module Four: Community Mobilization Skills, Adult Education, Facilitation Skills and Advocacy Engagement
- Description: This module will enhance the skills required by participants to share knowledge and mobilize their respective communities through community mobilization, adult education, facilitation, and advocacy skills. After completing this module, participants can apply their knowledge and skills in developing and reviewing action plans with a focus on effective implementation.
- Objective of the module: To strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills around community mobilization, adult learning, facilitation, and advocacy techniques.
- Duration: 360 minutes