The Role of Women in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding : Contributions to Post-Conflcit Outcomes in Liberia

Sammanfattning

Women's participation in peacebuilding has become a critical topic in international relations, particularly since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Existing research frequently argues that women's participation in peace negotiations leads to more sustainable and inclusive peace agreements. However, limited attention has been paid to whether women's engagement translates into meaningful political inclusion in post-conflict institutions. This thesis examines that connection in the context of Liberia, focusing on how local and national women's groups involved in the 2003 peace talks promoted women's political inclusion in Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Drawing on Feminist International Relations and decolonial feminist perspectives, the study investigates how gendered institutional systems influenced women's involvement and accessibility to decision-making during Liberia's post-conflict transformation. Methodologically, the study incorporates a qualitative document analysis of primary sources of Liberia's peace process and post-conflict structure. The findings show that women's organisations played an essential role in shaping Liberia's peace process during the 2003 discussions by mobilising, advocating, and taking collective action. Their efforts helped to include gender-sensitive concerns across the TRC framework. Despite these advances, women's participation did not fully translate into long-term political or substantive inclusion in post-conflict institutions.