On 5 March, DPI ran an online comparative study event entitled ‘Celebrating Women’s Participation in Peace and Conflict Resolution: Overcoming Challenges and Putting Peace Back on the Agenda’. The event hosted two internationally renowned speakers, namely, Prof Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former chairperson of the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines and Dr Emma Leslie, Executive Director of Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies.
Prof Miriam Coronel-Ferrer opened her presentation by noting Turkey’s constructive role in the Philippines peace process as a key actor in negotiations. The discussion also focused on the challenges women have faced in peace and security during the Bangsomoro peace process.
Our second speaker, Dr Emma Leslie, gave an overview on the challenges concerning peace practice and highlighted the need for innovative negotiations and peace processes through a feminist and inclusive approach.
During the discussion session, the speakers and participants talked about the importance of keeping dialogue alive during difficult times in Turkey’s process, and particularly how to increase women’s meaningful involvement in the peace process and the importance of equal participation in a future solution process. Though there is ‘no one path’ to resolving conflict, the speakers encouraged the group to work across divides and through multiple levels and institutions.
The online CSE forms part of a larger series of activities planned in the context of the project: “Forging Pathways to Peace and Democracy in Turkey”, supported by the Norwegian and Irish government.