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Transcript of Peace Negotiations: Outcomes and Implementation Monica McWilliams Gender Justice Dialogue From...
Peace Negotiations:Outcomes and ImplementationMonica McWilliams
Gender Justice DialogueFrom Belfast to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
LESSONS FROM ONE PEACE PROCESS
BEFORE CEASEFIRES DURING A PEACE PROCESS NEGOTIATING AT THE TABLE AFTER THE ACCORD: IN RETROSPECT WHAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON
NETWORK BUILDING OVER THE YEARS
Stage One: Civil Rights Activism
Stage Two: Civic Society Activists/Trade Unions
Stage Three: Conflict and Conflicted Activism
Stage Four: Peace Activism
Stage Five: Feminist Activism
Stage Six: Party Political Activism
A range of movements
Building Experience of Organising and fundraising
Developing political skills ( small p Vs big P politics)
Linking Global and local Campaigns from
Nuclear Disarmament (Greenpeace) and Anti-apartheid
Accidental Activism: giving space to a range of views
Domestic Violence
Rape Crisis
Action on Debt Poverty Lobby
Housing Campaigns
Women Crossing over into new territory: building international links
Cross BorderSouth AfricaLatin AmericaMiddle EastBalkansCyprus
Winning support for divisive policies
Acknowledging differences in the campaign to stop the strip-searching of female prisoners
Building the Women’s Coalition
Entering party politics: Breaking down barriers and confronting stereotypes
So the peace negotiations begin : but be aware
To get a broad platform of women together that encompasses family feminists and radical feminists as well as a range of women in between can be difficult
Expect a backlash from women in other parties Expect bullying and male bonding.
In a contested society, options put forward by women will be in danger of being branded as diversionary or collaborationist
The Inside Track – how do women get on it?
Peace processes can move rapidly at this stage Governments tend to be comfortable with the
accustomed faces Novelty can be destabilising and unwelcome Get familiar with the key documents, structures
and systems Identify trusted individuals to inform and brief
you
Get to grips with the process
Work the (electoral) system to your benefit Break down the tasks and make them
manageable ( the kitchen table campaign) Identify the skills that are there and fill the gaps
by bringing in the expertise – seek and you shall find! And not always in the universities!!
Adopt a set of principles – papers and policies can come later
Be prepared for the media – ‘the hen’s party comes home to roost’!
Thinking Outside the Box
Calculated risk taking – present issues in a new light
Identify any weak points (or controversial issues) and prepare a war chest of responses
Ensure that women’s projects will not be victimised if activists enter politics
Build a broad base without compromising core principles – rooted in identity but shifting in learning and understanding
Inclusion works
Cross checking and cross community validation Dialogue across differences – makes for more
informed negotiators Membership development takes time for
inclusiveness to work Give roles to ‘unusual suspects’ – find
spokespersons that challenge their own community
Journalists will look for a leader rather than joint leadership – take time to explain your approach
At the table
Find out the divisions and tension points – dedicate a member to each party and keep briefing notes. Note-takers are important.
Create social contacts and informal settings Pay attention to the process – seat enemies
alphabetically around the table Be clear about your bottom line demands and
adopt tactics that will get other parties to focus on issues that benefit women
Winning Credibility
Learn the formalities and put them to use Get comprehensive briefings about the details Understand the implementation process Who is responsible for what What is the timetable Will there be resources Draw on approaches from other agreements Respond to position papers
Keeping everyone on board
When some are excluded – work hard to get them back and mobilise optimism at this time
Men will behave badly but avoid preaching at them – exploit bad behaviour and name calling
Walk the line between confidentiality and transparency – don’t be bound by rules that others disregard and don’t be a door-keeper
Don’t forget your roots – use community sector expertise, brief your supporters
An eye on the future
Collective decision making takes time Find a balance between the optimists and
realists Credit the organisational skills as well as the
strategic – fundraisers are also crucial Have a forward looking policy team as well as
those involved in the details Find the training for the context Keep your organisation clean – don’t hire family
Learning in Retrospect
Keep looking for champions Be a role model but keep your feet on the
ground Use the international attention to build credibility Have a clear media strategy – don’t get pigeon
holed If you are deemed not ‘real politicians’ then
question how real politics has become distorted Create spaces for dialogue to continue – it can
get lost when the ‘hard tongue’ replaces the gun.
Old Problems need new questions
Create new pathways of communication – back alleys and rat runs are useful
Politics can foster individualism – keep looking for ways to promote the collective
Explain new approach carefully – it takes time for some to catch up or understand
Special measures are needed or women will disappear from the process
Keep an eye on reconstruction
Support measures for women should be prioritised – don’t allow these to be stood down
Women need to be prepared to put themselves forward – develop a thick skin
Gender proof – the ‘soft’ issues (civic forums and victims) are important and can get lost in subsequent ‘elitist’ negotiations
Women’s rights are human rights – women are not just looking after themselves!
After all we have been through – getting women’s rights recognised is still a battle
Will the Bill of Rights entrench protections that have been long fought for?
Will it be the foundational document with which women can identify?
39
Decommissioning, prisoner releases, new forms of governance all agreed but what is still at dispute…
Democratic rights
Public authorities must take effective measures to facilitate the full and equal participation of women in political and public life, including, where appropriate, the use of temporary special measures.
The membership of public bodies must, as far as practicable, be representative of society in Northern Ireland.
40
What Lessons Have Been Learned
Mainstreaming a gender analysis at an early stage may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the realities of conflict and the meaning of security
The grass roots and not just the elites have to be involved in decision-making
It must be democratic, inclusive and just
Women are good negotiators, accomplished at reconciling antagonistic differences and need to have their rights respected
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Gender Justice
The importance of monitoring eg the role of women in decision making UN Resolution (Security Council) 1325
Using benchmarks to assess the inclusion of women’s rights as a security issue
Making assessments of the extent of the involvement of civic society as stakeholders
Continually review where women are at in decision making levels of all public spheres: legislation, education, health, housing, employment, social services, judiciary and media
Emphasise the importance of women’s human rights in all the new institutions (policing, criminal justice, health)
Challenge (sexual) exploitation in all its forms.
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Key Lessons That Are Still Being Worked On
An electoral system with special measures - timetables and targets have to be included.
Women appointed to oversight bodies –not just men.
Victims of the conflict and the reintegration of prisoners – women’s needs have to be addressed as well.
Foundational documents must include women’s rights.
Transformative politics needs Community women’s projects.
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Other key lessons still being worked on
Women in civic society are important stakeholders. They are the Early Warning Systems and can introduce creative solutions to preventing further conflict
Capacity building programmes which build skills and confidence need to be funded at the community level
Women should be identified as spokespersons. Encourage women to come forward and take up the ‘serious’ positions. Women do ‘the heavy lifting’ with creative thinking – so let’s be seen and heard!