Using the examples of Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission (NDC), and the peace processes in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, this paper demonstrates how the inclusion (or otherwise) of women in these two process has had a profound impact on the outcomes seen thus far. [...] In 2021, MIND-Ethiopia’s initiative was overtaken by the NDC and in February 2022 the proclamation establishing the NDC was approved by the House of People’s Representatives with 11 commissioners appointed to lead the national dialogue process.4 While this could be seen as a positive move from the perspective of consolidating peace efforts under a duly mandated institution, it was regarded by some. [...] However, criticisms have been made regarding the lack of synchronization between the national peace process and corresponding sub-national processes, particularly concerning enforcement of the inclusion principle and politicization of the quota system in participant selection. [...] In line with the national context, the post-2018 period has seen heightened tensions in the region, leading to numerous killings, destruction of property and restrictions on freedom of movement.7 As such, alongside the launch of the national dialogue process, 2021/2022 saw concerted efforts to address the conflicts in the region. [...] As such, the region’s women face a double whammy of exclusion: not only are they excluded from participating in formal processes, which contributes to the fragility of the deals struck, but they are persistent victims of the conflict-led human rights violations that are the consequence of this fragility.
- Pages
- 5
- Published in
- Kenya
