Publication

This report is the result of a November 2005 workshop held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The session brought together 39 women leaders from civil society and armed opposition groups in Africa to learn more about the experiences of women and girls within the latter. It also put forward recommendations regarding their potential roles in promoting international humanitarian law and human rights law in conflict and post-conflict periods. The author discusses the observance of international humanitarian law in conflicts, human rights violations and in particular the violation of women's rights. The paper also addresses disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and women's leadership roles in armed opposition groups. Every section contains lessons learned and recommendations.