Roundtable Meeting: Conflict Resolution, The Irish Experience, Dublin, 15-18 February 2015

DPI’s third roundtable meeting focusing on women’s role in conflict resolution, and the gendered effect of conflict, took place over four days in Dublin this week. The women only delegation in this activity included key actors from Turkey’s process, ranging from civil society leaders, academics, members of the Wise Person’s Committee, policy advisors, lawyers, and media representatives and journalists. During the roundtable, which was facilitated with the kind assistance of the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs, participants met with those who were at the forefront of discussion during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, including former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, former government negotiator Liz O’Donnell, and religious and civil society actors within the process, as well as with government representatives. Meetings took place at the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) and at Iveagh House (the Department of Foreign Affairs), and a reception was also held at the Turkey Ambassador to Ireland’s residence. In addition to subjects relating to women’s role in the Good Friday Agreement and ongoing maintenance of peace in Ireland, discussions focused on the role of civil society and religious actors in conflict resolution, as well as on the role of the Irish government in the Irish peace process. This visit is part of our ongoing work on gender and conflict resolution, which includes activities both in Turkey and elsewhere, as well as research on related topics.