PeaceWomen · Rethinking Peace-building: women, revolution, exile and conflict resolution in Yemen

Rethinking Peace-building: women, revolution, exile and conflict resolution in Yemen

The Peace Women Project is a multisite study of women, revolution, forced migration, transnationalism, and peacebuilding in Yemen and beyond. It aims to deepen the understanding of the role of women and refugees in post-revolutionary conflicts and peace processes. While it focuses particularly on Yemeni activists in exile based in the Netherlands, Germany, and Jordan, it also considers broader contexts. Understanding the role of women in peacebuilding is crucial for developing more inclusive and effective gender-sensitive approaches to resolving conflicts and building sustainable peace. Women's perspectives and leadership can bring unique insights and strategies for peace negotiations, contributing to more durable solutions. The experiences of Yemeni women, both within the country and in the diaspora, provide valuable lessons on women’s contributions to peacebuilding. These insights highlight the importance of linking efforts inside and outside the country to address issues from a transnational perspective. Overall objectives: The Peace Women project focuses on Yemeni female leaders and activists-turned-refugees to explore how post-revolutionary violence and the ongoing war have influenced their participation, and how they have impacted peacebuilding and political processes both within and outside the country. It examines the emergence and resilience of feminist transnational networks in the context of peacebuilding and conflict, analysing how the Yemeni diaspora seizes opportunities and navigates constraints to mobilize as transnational social movements for peace, justice, and post-conflict reconstruction. The project aims to: • Explore the efforts and actions of Yemeni female refugees and activists in conflict management and peacebuilding from 2015 to 2023. • Document women’s experiences and resilience to understand how post-revolutionary violence and conflict have affected and reshaped their political participation. • Contribute to the conceptual development of the interplay between gender, revolution, forced migration, transnationalism, conflict, and peacebuilding. • Analyse the contributions of Yemeni female activists and refugees to identify practical peacebuilding and conflict prevention strategies. • Provide evidence-based policy recommendations to democratize peace processes through the promotion of inclusive participation of women and refugees in all their diversity. Conclusions of the Action The Peace Women project highlights the significant contributions of Yemeni women in the diaspora to peacebuilding efforts, emphasizing how conflict has shaped their transnational identity and fostered innovative approaches to peace and justice. Moving beyond simple binaries that often categorize diasporas as either peace-wreckers or peace-makers, it offers a nuanced understanding of their complex roles. Through interviews with Yemeni female activists residing in Western countries, this study illuminates the impact of conflict-induced migration on their lives and demonstrates how their involvement in peace-making enhances public representation, brings gender-sensitive expertise to negotiation tables, and advocates for feminist peace. This involvement not only improves the legitimacy of agreements but also enhances prospects for a more durable peace in Yemen and beyond. The Yemeni diaspora, however, does not represent a homogeneous entity with uniform objectives and interests. Amid conflict-induced migration, diaspora communities often show divisions that mirror conflicts within their home countries. Despite these challenges, female peace activists have spearheaded significant reconciliation efforts, impacting social, economic, and political spheres. Their efforts highlight the importance of incorporating diverse women's insights into peace processes, which not only refines peacebuilding strategies but also advances transitional justice, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable culture of peace.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union