Authors:
Salome Mbugua Henry
Published:
2021

This thesis, set in the context of field research conducted in North Kivu province in DRC, explores the barriers to women’s participation in peacebuilding processes and their potential contributions. From the field, it is evident that women’s organisations and groups are doing remarkable work in supporting women on the ground, providing them with much needed health, counselling and humanitarian services. This is not enough, however. Insecurity continues to damage their lives, and despite their commitment to peacebuilding efforts, they are excluded from formal peace meetings, even those held at the grassroots level. They face many challenges, given their patriarchal and conflict-ridden context, in terms of maintaining and sustaining their work, including a lack of resources, difficulties in travelling for work-related meetings and the fear of intimidation from male counterparts.