The Gender Perspective in Norwegian Peace Efforts

Preventing conflict and making, keeping and building peace is a declared priority in Norwegian foreign policy. Women are seen as an important resource, with special interests and needs, and Norway is therefore seeking to mainstream a gender perspective into all peace promoting efforts. Women take part in conflicts in various ways, both military and civilian, but as a rule they are not present at the peace negotiating tables. Their knowledge, capacities and needs are therefore at risk of being excluded from the reconciliation and reconstruction process. Since the early 1990s, Norway has been acting as facilitator and supporter in several peace and reconciliation processes around the world, takes part in humanitarian and development assistance, and sends personnel - including women - to military, police and peace monitoring missions. The purpose of this study is to describe how and to what extent a gender perspective is reflected in policy and implementation of Norwegian peace efforts, using Sudan and Sri Lanka as main case studies. It will focus on lessons learned and 'best practices' that can serve as guidelines for further Norwegian involvement in peace processes.