WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY:
BURUNDI
UNIFEM
WOMEN, WAR AND PEACE WEB PORTAL: BURUNDI
"So, women decided to organise themselves and create associations
for peace and reconciliations because at that time, Tutsi people
were on one side and Hutu on an other side. They tried to organise
meetings when men were continuing killing. Unfortunately, women
were excluded in all meeting organised by the government in order
to find a solution to the crisis. Even women who were members
of the parties were not consulted. Then women saw that they are
excluded in any initiative, and they decided to count on their
own, and worked hard in order to find a solution. They participated
in international fora, they met other women and discussed with
them. With the help of Ms. Speciose Kazibwe, the Vice President
of Uganda, and Ms. Perry the ex-President of Liberia, they managed
to organise a conference in Uganda, after which they met H. E.
Museveni, the President of Uganda, who accepted to negotiate the
participation of Burundian Women in the Burundi peace negotiation
in Arusha. This has been done and women participate for the first
time in October 1998."
Marie
Goretti Nduwayo, National Programme Officer of UNIFEM in Burundi.
November 2, 1999
"Peace and security are dependent on the equal participation
of men and women in all areas of public life, including decision-making.
If the political representation of
women has not progressed in Burundi as it has done elsewhere,
that is because the way politics is done has not much evolved.
Women are not just victims in the socio-political crisis facing
Burundi. They have also contributed to the peace process. Unfortunately
our role has not always been given due recognition.
Security Council Resolution 1325,
if it were fully implemented, would revolutionise many things.
Burundian women did not wait for this Resolution to act or to
speak out. When conflict broke out in Burundi in 1993, a number
of womenís associations representing women from different
ethnic groups emerged and united for peace at a time when men
were prisoners in ethnic ghettos. In 1994, Burundian women, convinced
that they would be stronger if united, decided to create the Collectif
des Associations et ONGs FÈminines du Burundi (CAFOB).
CAFOBís main objectives are to strengthen the operational
capacities of member associations and to support the role of Burundian
women in peace-building, national reconciliation and development.
There were 7 associations when CAFOB started out, now there are
52."
Sabine
Sabimbona of Burundi
"Burundi women have continuously demanded inclusion in the
peace talks. We have been jointly fighting for our right to be
included, irrespective of our ethnicity, political affiliations
and geographic diversities. We, as women, want to make sure that
the rights of all Burundian women are protected in all aspects
of political, social and economic spheres."
Emilliene
Minani, chairwoman of the Burundi Women Refugees Network
PeaceWomen 