Women's political and legal empowerment and post-conflict peacebuilding

Women's contributions to peace negotiations and post-conflict peacebuilding are too often overlooked, undocumented and anecdotal. Is international peace, security and democracy enhanced when women are active participants in all aspects of peace processes including post-conflict governance and reconstruction, and if so, how can women's involvement in such processes be ensured? Can political and legal empowerment of women help promote women's involvement in post-conflict peacebuilding? More specifically, can we demonstrate with concrete examples that when women are legally and politically empowered the chances and positive impact of their involvement in post-conflict peacebuilding are higher? This thesis will analyze three case studies where women's involvement in the peacebuilding process contributed to lasting peace. What were the key components that contributed to women's involvement in those cases and could these be replicated?;To answer those questions, this thesis will draw on the extensive literature about women in war and peace. This thesis will also compare three case studies (Tunisia, Liberia and Northern Ireland) where women were significantly involved in post-conflict peacebuilding efforts with positive results. For each case study, the thesis will analyze what particular political or legal frameworks contributed to successful results in women's involvement and how/if such involvement was a significant element of good governance, legitimacy and peace in those countries. This thesis will also compare the similarities/differences in these particular legal or political frameworks to try to determine what positive trends can be identified and if they could be replicated in other situations to promote women's involvement in post-peacebuilding.;This thesis will show that some of the key components of a successful framework to promote women's involvement in post-conflict peacebuilding are women's equal access to education and equal rights, community building through women's civil rights and religious groups, women's participation in politics, and international and regional organizations support and assistance to women's groups. It will also demonstrate how such key components can produce positive women's engagement, how they contribute to good governance, legitimacy and the consolidation of peace, and how they could be replicated in countries in conflict.