ABSTRACT
This chapter examines three major 'barriers' to women's participation in peace processes. It outlines peace processes that have produced the most 'woman-aware' peace agreements in the last almost 30 years and what accounts for this outcome. There are seven cases in the last 25 years where peace processes have resulted in higher levels of women's substantive representation in peace agreements, these include: Guatemala, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan-Darfur, Uganda, the Philippines-Bangsamoro and Colombia. The inclusion of women is effective at generating longer and stronger peace processes, then one would think the dynamics of peace processes of changing. There are three ways women working for peace can be supported by other groups to ensure more woman-aware agreements and overcome the barriers. These include supporting women to prepare their own agenda for peace processes; ensuring both formal and informal access to peace processes; and advocating on behalf of women's groups, particularly when participation in the peace process is limited.
