Women at the Table - Asia-Pacific: Regional Roundtable Meeting

Indonesian Peace Table meeting

In Indonesia, women have played various roles in managing conflict at the community level. Yet, their involvement at the political level remains minimal. Working in partnership with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and the State Ministry for Women Empowerment and Child Protection, the HD Centre will document Indonesian women's experience in conflict resolution and develop strategies to promote their role in conflict resolution at a more senior level. An roundtable took place in Jakarta on 24-26 March 2010. It brought together 30 people from both government and non-governmental sectors. Participants discussed ways to enhance and better coordinate efforts to promote women's involvement in conflict resolution. Follow-up workshops at the local level, as well as the production of policy suggestions and briefings for the Government of Indonesia are being planned.

Regional roundtable meeting

The HD Centre will organise a second roundtable meeting (see agenda) this time in Nepal, on 27-30 September 2010. The meeting will bring together senior women including mediators, advisers to peace processes, members of negotiating teams and government representatives from across Asia and the Pacific. Co-organised with the India-based organisation Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP), the roundtable will provide a forum for open exchange of experiences and for practical and creative discussions. It will be build on the HD Centre's experience in convening senior level roundtables such as with the Oslo forum retreats and similar Women at the Table events in Africa and Indonesia.

Key questions will include:

• What difference does it make when women are power brokers and are sitting at the peace table, representing the constituency of women as well as various political interests?
• To what extent are women appointed to represent the interests of women? Conversely, what happens when women do not represent women's interest? How are they perceived?
• What challenges do women face in these situations?
• What strategies can mediators use to ensure greater involvement of women at the table?
• How does unequal gender representation affect peace processes?

Fore more information: site.