Integrating women’s empowerment into Peace building :
A case from Women and Youth as
Pillars for Sustainable Peace (WYPSP)
project, CARE Nepal,
Sarita Karki, WYPSP Team Leader
CCP Workshop
28th November , 2011,
London.
CARE International in Nepal
WYPSP TOC (20010-2011)
“If peace centre is strengthened and the
capacities of peace ambassadors, citizen
journalists, peace pressure group and
mediators are developed to enable them
to raise the issues of the PVSE, then
peace groups will contribute to local
peace building processes”.
CARE International in Nepal
WYPSP intervention model for advocacy
National
PVSE Issues Indentified and
advocated
Level
District
Level
Shanti
Mallika/Na
garik Awaz
Like Minded
Organization works
with Line agency,
media, MOPR &
other line Ministries,
women commission
District Level Peace Centre,
expanded linkage with
district Pressure groups
(Bridged by P.A
policy Feed Back)
Community
Level
VDC Level Peace
Pressure Group.
P.A,C.J , Mediator,
Psychosocial, Support
group
Peace Groups (6 each at ward level)
Women men share in Peace
group
Why Women are involved in this Project
•
•
•
•
•
Conflict affected women population - low literacy rate,
heavy workload, their right to information not ensured and
self esteem very low
Women right awareness enables them towards collective
social action (local resources, increase representation,
increase in women's mediation role )
Women irrespective class from different caste groups come
together for common issues
Conflict management skill transformation to women peace
group members complements to minimize local disputes,
(mediation support)
Women’s involvement will increase community trust and
recognition as peace actors
CARE International in Nepal
How does WYPSP Empower Women?
• Weekly discussion sessions at peace groups
empowers women agency,
• Women's learning attitude and willingness
• Promotion of local peace support mechanism
increases women's representation in decision
making at local level to seek women’s
meaningful participation
• Gaining trust and recognition of women as peace
actors at all level by building their capacity to
negotiate. Mediate, transforming skill increasing
knowledge.
CARE International in Nepal
Lessons learned from WYPSP project on
Gender to PB.
• Peace building intervention needs to assess
women’s ability and need at all level including
class, and caste because their suffering differs
• Women’s understanding of peace building and
security needs to be assessed, they are more
involved in economic activities, household.
• Effective policy implementation by state and its
monitoring by civil society organization (UNSCR
1325 National Action Plan(NAP) implementation)
• Inter group, cross district exposure visit
complements to empowering women
CARE International in Nepal
Lessons learned from WYPSP project on
Gender to PB.
• Capacity building of Poor Vulnerable Socially
Excluded(PVSE) women as citizen journalists and peace
ambassadors enables them raise issues locally and expand
linkages with other organizations for resource leverages.
• PVSE believe that Peace without social justice is
incomplete. Peace Building is not confined only to right
attainment, moreover building harmony and greater level
of satisfaction of all the member of the community.
• Women issues differs according to socio cultural context,
and their experience of conflict,
• Peace support mechanism serves as safety net for women
to advocate for their rights.
CARE International in Nepal
Lessons learned from WYPSP project on
Gender to PB.Contd.
• Close coordination is essential to promote
organic linkage at all levels, it is more effective
with like minded organization.
• Changing ideology, beliefs and pattern of
thinking of a person towards women is a gradual
process not possible at a time.
• Women groups interaction with policy makers
and service providers motivates women for
collective action
• Peace support mechanism creates space to
promote micro macro linkage for advocacy for
women to attain and enjoy their rights
CARE International in Nepal
What lessons learned linking advocacy at
multiple levels to PB?
• Weekly sessions enables women to prioritize issues and
address issues at local level and aware them about national
and international instruments for women peace and
security.
• Intervention model of women as Citizen Journalist,
mediators and Peace Ambassadors helps to raise issue and
advocate at various levels
• Linkage between community, district and national
initiatives creates greater pressure at various level for peace
process.
• Different actors involve in this program have their own
agendas, therefore, sometime issue prioritization for peace
building and linking at higher level becomes a challenge
CARE International in Nepal
Risk towards mobilizing Women as peace
builders
• Women trust towards service providers to seek
state security services,
• Socio cultural acceptance of women as PB
• Social recognition as peace actor, they are seen
as sufferers only.
• Political protection/criminals
• Power pressure from elites and security threat
CARE International in Nepal
How Theory Of change has
complemented to empower women?
• Awareness classes and empowering agency
• Increased representation to influence decision
making process and increases access to attain
and enjoy rights
• Social recognition as peace actor, relationship
strengthened at all level.
CARE International in Nepal
Thank you
CARE International in Nepal