2006 Women PeaceMakers Conference -
"Who's Making Policy? What Difference Does It Make?"

October 18-20, 2006

Daily Discussions

Speakers

Final Report

An international conference on gender-inclusive decision making for peace with justice.

Co-convened by:
• Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

In partnership with:
• Boston Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights
• Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces
• Heinrich Boell Foundation
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
• Women Impacting Public Policy

International resolutions and agreements call for women to be at all policymaking tables. Over 150 policymakers, practitioners, researchers, experts and students participated in the three-day, international working conference to address the shaping of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding policies when women are more equally engaged.

Experts presented signs of influence on policy direction as women and men work jointly on peace and human security issues. Delegates and speakers explored positive outcomes, as well as inherent roadblocks, in efforts to hold governments, political parties, peacekeepers, armed forces, corporations, religious institutions and civil society accountable for progress in incorporating women as essential partners and voices in peace negotiations, demobilization, disarmament, reconciliation, reconstruction, development and the creation of new constitutions. A series of complementary knowledge-building and working sessions provided delegates the opportunity to directly engage with and learn from one another and build cross-sector networks and alliances.