ABSTRACT
Questions of peace and security trouble the western world enormously, particularly in the post-9/11 era. For those living in conflict zones or divided societies, violence and insecurity are daily realities. In 2005, the Peace and Conflict Ledger (Marshall and Gurr 2005) rated 31 countries as being at great risk of conflict escalating to serious violence and government instability and another 51 countries as being very vulnerable to conflict. ‘In short, half the world’s countries have serious weaknesses that call for international scrutiny and engagement’ (Marshall and Gurr 2005: 2).1 Even when violent conflict fades, peace appears elusive and feeling safe and secure is something to dream about. While men, women and children are affected by the traumas of war, violent conflict and radical political insecurity, the specific experiences of conflict, loss and pain differ for women. The difference extends to the types of experiences, the depths of exclusion from political decision-making and participation in peacenegotiations and in many women’s interpretations of what is necessary to build peace and practice reconciliation.
