Peacebuilding With a Gender Perspective: How The EU Can Make a Difference

The 10th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security provides an opportunity for political leaders, policymakers and activists to use the work to date as a launch-pad to ensure translation of commitments on paper into action on the ground. Drawing from the different research papers produced by the Gender Cluster of the Initiative for Peacebuilding (IfP), the main purpose of this paper is to set out where and how the application of a gender-sensitive approach to peacebuilding can improve the delivery of longer-term peacebuilding goals.

However, a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach to peacebuilding continues to be seen as “nice to have”
rather than “mission critical”. The gaps in understanding are: what difference it makes; how the application of a gender analysis is catalytic for peacebuilding success; and how it makes the work of policymakers and practitioners more efficient by improving and optimising peacebuilding initiatives. In view of this challenge, this synthesis paper identifies entry points for international actors such as the EU to further develop a gendersensitive approach to peacebuilding within the domains of governance as well as security and justice. Although peacebuilding encompasses other aspects as well, the main focus of the Gender Cluster's work has been on security, justice and governance, given that these sectors represent critical entry points for peace- and statebuilding
efforts in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.