The Absence of Women at Peace Tables: Is a Lasting Solution Possible?

By Büşra Yentürk

While women bear the heaviest burden of conflict, they are systematically excluded from peace negotiations. The data is clear: peace processes that include women produce more sustainable solutions. So why are women still being sidelined?

For women struggling to survive in conflict zones, peace means more than just silencing guns. Justice, rebuilding social structures, and compensation for losses must also be part of the process. Yet peace initiatives in Turkey and worldwide continue to leave women out of the room.

UN Warns: Peace Is Fragile Without Women

The United Nations Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" has long emphasized the importance of women's active participation in peace processes. According to the UN's 2023 report, negotiations that include women are 35% more likely to result in lasting solutions. However, women negotiators are present in only 13% of peace agreements worldwide.

The situation in Turkey is no different. During the resolution process between 2013-2015, women tried to make their voices heard, but male politicians and official representatives dominated the negotiating table. While women's organizations played an active role in the field, they had no direct access to decision-making processes.

"Excluding Women Threatens the Durability of Peace"

Nesrin Soydan, Board Member of the Women's Solidarity Association, emphasizes that excluding women is not just a violation of rights but also a factor that endangers lasting peace:

"Women pay the highest price for conflict. They are the ones displaced, most affected by economic crises, and living under the shadow of violence. Yet they don't have equal representation in peace talks. A peace made without women is an incomplete peace."

Why Is Women's Participation Critical?

According to experts, women's participation in peace processes is not just a matter of representation but also a strategic necessity. Here are three fundamental reasons:

• Strong connections with grassroots communities: Women help ensure that peace extends to the grassroots level and reaches all segments of society.
• Justice and truth perspective: Women's demands include not only silencing weapons but also establishing a fair peace order.
• Power to transform structural inequalities: Women's experience and struggle play a key role in addressing the injustices produced by conflicts.

According to Soydan, the issue is not just having women at the table; it's about integrating women's perspectives, gender perspectives, and demands for justice into the process.

A peace process is not merely an agreement between the state and armed actors. For a sustainable peace that encompasses society, women must be essential components of the process. Otherwise, what is called peace will be nothing more than a temporary ceasefire.

The journalist bears full responsibility for this content. The British Embassy cannot be held responsible.